{{Short description|Species of amphibian}} {{More footnotes needed|date=November 2015}} {{speciesbox | image = Leptopelis vermiculatus2.jpg | status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite journal | author = IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group | title = ''Leptopelis vermiculatus'' | journal = [[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] | volume= 2014 | page = e.T56284A3037319 | year = 2014 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T56284A3037319.en | doi-access = free }}</ref> | genus = Leptopelis | species = vermiculatus | authority = ([[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], 1909) | synonyms = ''Hylambates vermiculatus'' <small>Boulenger, 1909</small><br> ''Leptopelis signifer'' <small>Ahl, 1929</small> }}

'''''Leptopelis vermiculatus''''', also known as the '''peacock tree frog''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repticzone.com/caresheets/2084.html |title=Peacock Tree Frog, Leptopelis vermiculatus Care Sheets |year=2008 |work=RepticZone. Reptile and Amphibian Information and Care |accessdate=19 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108191526/http://www.repticzone.com/caresheets/2084.html |archivedate= 8 November 2015 }}</ref> '''Amani forest treefrog''',<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=Frost/> or '''vermiculated tree frog''',<ref name=Frost/> is a [[species]] of [[frog]] found in [[forest]] areas in [[Tanzania]].<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=Frost/> Sometimes the common name '''big-eyed tree frog''' is used,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkive.org/big-eyed-tree-frog/leptopelis-vermiculatus/image-G19687.html|title=Big-eyed tree frog (''Leptopelis vermiculatus'')|work=Wildscreen ARKive|accessdate=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120051955/http://www.arkive.org/big-eyed-tree-frog/leptopelis-vermiculatus/image-G19687.html|archive-date=2015-11-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> but this may also refer to another species, ''[[Leptopelis macrotis]]''.<ref name="Frost L. macrotis "/>

==Description== [[Image:Leptopelis vermiculatus.jpg|thumb|200px|left|A brown-phase ''Leptopelis vermiculatus'']] This species is a medium to large frog ranging from 40 to 85&nbsp;mm in length. It has two very different colour phases. In one phase, they are a bright [[green]] with scattered [[black]] specks all over the [[Dorsum (biology)|dorsal]] surface and the sides are marble with black and [[white]]. With some specimens, the end of the [[tibia]] to the toes, forearms and upper lip have white blotching outlined with dark green or black. In the other phase, they are [[brown]] with an irregular-shaped, darker brown triangular patch on the dorsum. Randomly placed darker or lighter brown spots and patches may appear over the dorsal surface, legs and forearms and a dark brown streak often runs from behind the [[tympanum (zoology)|tympanum]] ending halfway between the [[armpit]] and [[groin]]. In both phases, the ventral surface is cream-white. Some specimens show a transition between both phases and change from the green phase to the brown phase as they mature. The [[eye]]s are very big compared with body size and are golden with brown lines and flecks. Its large toe pads are used for climbing. The tympanum is distinct. They are sometimes kept as pets.

==Ecology and behaviour==

This species inhabits the closed-canopy wet tropical [[rainforest]]s of Tanzania between the altitudes of 900 and 1800&nbsp;m. Males call while in the water, and are very territorial. They have two different calls: one is a “ga…ga…ga”, used for attracting females, and the other is a “rrrrrrrr-ga” used for deterring other males of the same species. They are [[insectivore|insectivorous]].

==Similar species==

This species is very similar to the yellow-spotted tree frog (''[[Leptopelis flavomaculatus]]''), a species that also varies greatly in dorsal patterning and colouration. The yellow-spotted tree frog, in its green phase, lacks the fine black specks present over the dorsum in the big-eyed tree frog's green phase. The brown phase of the yellow-spotted tree frog has a white blotch on the elbow, which brown-phase big-eyed tree frogs lack.

==References== {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name=Frost>{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia123/index.php//Amphibia/Anura/Arthroleptidae/Leptopelinae/Leptopelis/Leptopelis-vermiculatus |title=''Leptopelis vermiculatus'' (Boulenger, 1909) |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2016 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |accessdate=11 October 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Frost L. macrotis ">{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia123/index.php//Amphibia/Anura/Arthroleptidae/Leptopelinae/Leptopelis/Leptopelis-macrotis |title=''Leptopelis macrotis'' Schiøtz, 1967 |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2016 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |accessdate=11 October 2016}}</ref> }} *[http://www.amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?query_src=aw_lists_genera_&where-genus=Leptopelis&where-species=vermiculatus#818 AmphibiaWeb - ''Leptopelis vermiculatus''] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004421/http://www.globalamphibians.org/servlet/GAA?searchName=Leptopelis+vermiculatus Global Amphibiam Assessment - ''Leptopelis vermiculatus''] {{Leptopelis}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1525786}}

[[Category:Leptopelis|vermiculatus]] [[Category:Frogs of Africa]] [[Category:Endemic amphibians of Tanzania]] [[Category:Amphibians described in 1909]] [[Category:Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger]]