the pearson's tree frog is a small tree frog growing up to 45 mm in length. its dorsal surface can range from completely light green, to a mixture of green and brown, or mostly brown in color. usually, black dots are scattered over the dorsal surface, but in some specimens, these dots may not occur. the belly is white or off white. a light brown/yellow stripe starts at the tip of the snout, across the nostril, eye, and tympanum, and then widens and dissipates over the shoulder. this line is underlined with a thicker dark brown line. the tympanum of this species is brown or mostly brown, not green. the tadpoles of the "r. phyllochroa" complex ("r. phyllochroa", southern leaf green tree frog, "r. barringtonensis" and "r. pearsoniana") are very similar in appearance and are difficult to tell apart; range is the best method for distinguishing tadpoles.