tree frog

tree frog facts

Tree frogs are one of the strangest amphibians in the world, thanks to their adorable eyes and unique legs and toes that allow them to climb trees with ease.

Unlike their somewhat stocky terrestrial counterparts, tree frogs are often brightly colored, making them some of the most popular zoo exhibits. Since they are primarily nocturnal, their distinctive calls often allow them to be heard rather than seen in their native habitat. Although these frogs primarily live in tropical climates, some species live in more temperate regions and hibernate during the winter.

5 Unbelievable Facts!

• In Europe, these frogs have traditionally been regarded as barometers, as they bark in response to incoming rain.
• Most of these frog species can change skin color, sometimes because of their mood, in a range of shades of green, gray, brown and yellow.
• White's tree frogs have a great sense of hearing and can sense vibrations in the ground.
• Red-eyed tree frogs are considered ambassadors for these frog species because of their vivid eyes.
• These frogs have an extra eyelid to cover their eyes. They also blink when swallowing to force their prey down.

You can check out more incredible facts about tree frogs.

scientific name and history

Tree frogs include several families of the order Anura . The Hyla family , whose scientific name is Hyla and sometimes called true tree frogs, is the most numerous—about 40 genera and about 700 species. The scientific names of Nonhylid tree frogs include Centrolenidae, Hyperoliidae, Rhacophoridae, and Microhylidae.

Frogs have lived on Earth for about 100 million years. There is fossil evidence that the red-eyed tree frog remained largely unchanged for more than 10 million years. The reason there are so many different species from several different biological families is a process called convergent evolution. That is, similar living conditions caused them to evolve to look very similar.

For the ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians, frogs symbolized fertility, while for the ancient Greeks and Romans, frogs represented not only fertility, but harmony and indulgence. Frogs have long been popular characters in folklore and fairy tales, including one that turns into a prince after being kissed by a beautiful maiden.

Types of tree frogs

While there are too many species of tree frogs to list here, some notable ones include:

• White-lipped tree frog – largest, lives in Australia and Oceania
• Cuban Tree Frog – the largest tree frog in the Western Hemisphere, found in the Caribbean and southeastern United States
• Red-eyed tree frog – shiny, bulging eyes; largely unchanged for 10 million years, found in southern Mexico, Central and northern South America.
• American green tree frog – bright green and uses a variety of calls to communicate
• White's tree frog (aka dumpy tree frog or Australian tree frog) – Encases its body in caerviein to keep it hydrated and lives in Australia and New Guinea.
• Gray Tree Frog – Lives in North America
• The little grass frog – the smallest tree frog, lives in cypress swamps in Virginia, Florida and Alabama.
• Boophis (aka bright-eyed or skeleton) tree frog – the only genus in the subfamily Boophinae; found in Madagascar and Mayotte.
• Other names you may come across include the European Green Frog, Spring Peeping Frog, Pine Barren Tree Frog, Bornean Eared Tree Frog, Cope's Gray Tree Frog, and the Pacific Tree Frog, the frog that makes the famous "rabbit" sound Attributed to all the frogs in TV and movies.

More details about these frogs are given below.

appearance

The most distinctive feature of tree frogs is their feet, as the last bone in their toes is claw-shaped. Toe pads with tiny suction cups and exoskeletal structures on the toes also help them climb trees. They come in a variety of colors, the most common being green, gray or brown.

Due to their predominantly arboreal habitat, where they live on leaves and twigs, most of these frogs are smaller and often more slender than terrestrial frogs. The smallest species are less than an inch long.

The largest of these frogs is the white-lipped tree frog, found in Australia and Oceania, which can vary in length from 4 inches to 5.5 inches. The largest species in the Western Hemisphere is the Cuban tree frog, found in the Caribbean and the southeastern United States at 1.5 to 5 inches in length. It is brown and has a somewhat plain and chunky appearance.

One of the most striking members of the hydrozoan family, the red-eyed tree frog may have evolved bright eyes in part to make predators question their food choices and seek out less intimidating prey. Another adaptation, called startle coloration, allows the red-eyed tree frog to flash its bulging eyes and reveal webbed orange feet and bright blue and yellow sides, often causing birds and snakes to stop in surprise, which gives Frog time to escape. Their bright green color may also overstimulate the eyes of predators by producing confusing ghostly images.

American green tree frogs are bright green, which helps them camouflage themselves in the surrounding foliage in the wild. They have pale white or cream stripes from the sides of the head to the sides.

White tree frogs coat their bodies in a milky coating called caerviein, which helps them survive in dry areas by retaining body moisture. Scientists have used drugs extracted from their skin to fight staph bacteria, lower blood pressure and treat cold sores caused by the herpes virus.

Behavior

Most species are nocturnal and solitary, but gather in large flocks during mating season. Many people sleep on leaves and branches all day. In the hot summer, white tree frogs often come to people's homes to find water to drink. When threatened, they let out a piercing screech. Green tree frogs communicate using a variety of barks. Adults often camouflage themselves by pulling their legs back and closing their eyes.

Habitat

Tree frogs live on every continent except Antarctica, with the greatest concentration in Central and South America, where there are about 600 species. About 30 species live in the warmer regions of the southeastern United States. Most (but not all) species are arboreal, which is why they have long legs and toe pads to help them climb and jump. Non-arboreal species live in lakes and ponds or in moist ground cover.

The red-eyed frog lives in the tropical lowlands from southern Mexico and Central America to northern South America. They are nocturnal and hide in the canopy of the rainforest.

An adaptable species called the white tree frog lives in Australia and New Guinea. They prefer moist forests and don't usually live near bodies of water, collecting rainwater from leaves, cup plants, and crevices. The species' adaptations allow them to live with people in suburban and agricultural areas, where they are commonly found in bathrooms, tanks and reservoirs.

diet

Like other amphibians, these frogs are carnivores, eating insects such as crickets, flies, worms, spiders, moths, and other invertebrates. Large Cuban frogs will eat anything they can fit in their mouths, including lizards, snakes, small mammals, and even other frogs. These frogs use their long, sticky tongues to ambush unsuspecting prey. For a full list of what tree frogs eat, check out our "What Do Tree Frogs Eat?" page.

Predators and Threats

Predators include various mammals, reptiles, birds, and even some large fish, mainly due to the frog's small size. The official conservation status of these frogs is considered to be of least concern due to their widespread distribution and presumed high numbers. However, the overall population of these frogs faces threats, including habitat destruction by humans, pollution, climate change and disease. Habitat destruction is a problem in Europe, although conservation efforts in several European countries have successfully re-established some tree frog habitat.

Reproduction, Babies and Longevity

Males of nearly every species bark to attract mates, and each species of tree frog has its own unique call.

Some frogs hatch into tiny adults, but more commonly, these frogs hatch into tadpoles, which then develop into adults. Females lay eggs on leaves above the water surface, allowing the hatched tadpoles to fall into the water to develop. Metamorphosis from tadpole to adult can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

White tree frogs begin breeding in their second year, usually feasting for a few days before mating. Males grow a black pad on their thumb to help grab the female during mating. Clutch size varies by species and can hold 150 to 1,000 eggs, with hatching beginning about 28 to 36 hours after spawning.

Lifespan varies by species, with some living for less than three years. North American gray tree frogs live about 5 years, while Australian tree frogs can live up to 15 years in captivity. White tree frogs generally live around 16 years, but can live up to 21 years in captivity.

population

Scientists have no real estimate of the global population of these frogs because they are widely distributed and not endangered. However, their numbers are thought to be declining as humans continue to encroach on their habitat.

in the zoo

The Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is home to the red-eyed and white tree frogs. Both species feed on crickets, cockroaches and worms. The best time to see these frogs at the zoo is early morning and evening. They are mainly nocturnal animals, so most of the time, visitors will see them sleeping on the green leaves of the exhibit. You'll have to watch carefully though, as these frogs tend to blend into their environment.

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