Interesting Facts about Tree Frogs

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Tree_frog2

Tree Frogs or tree toads are a part of the variety of frog family that includes more than 800 species. The actual tree frog belongs to the Hylidae family and is available in a wide number. They have special toe pads that are essential for climbing and the last toe bone or the terminal phalanx is claw shaped.

Tree frogs are sleek with long legs and a small body of about four inches. They have well developed adhesive substances at the base of the toe digits which are required during climbing.

Here are some lesser known facts about tree frogs.

  • Their skins are shiny and are available in a wide range of colours. There is a metallic glow on their body. Some of the varieties have large eyes that shine like a jewel and seem to be like copper or gold. There are some tree frogs that can change their body colour as well like the chameleon.
  • Most tree frog species build their nest in water or on small plants growing within a water body but there are some species like the blacksmith frog that make their own nest of mud by the side of the water.
  • In case of marsupial frog, South America, the egg hatch and the tadpole develops inside a litter bag present on the back of the female. There are some species that are not good climbers and prefer living in mud or in burrows if not in water.
  • The largest tree frog in the world is the Australian White-lipped tree frog that can grow up to 5.5 inch long. But in America, Cuban tree frog is the largest that reaches the length of 5 inch. While the smallest of all tree frogs grows only up to an inch long.
  • The adult tree frogs feed on small insects such as ants, flies, beetles, moths and even some small invertebrates but the tadpoles are mostly herbivores in nature. Many small mammals or reptiles feed on tree frogs. Some of the birds and fishes also eat tree frogs.
  • The lifespan of the tree frogs varies from species to species. Some of them are blessed with long life such as the Australian green tree frog, which can live up to 15 years.
  • There are some tree frogs that have a shorter lifespan of around three years or even less than that. While some have medium lifespan like the North American grey tree frog that lives up to nine years.
  • Most of the tree frogs are arboreal in nature but all of them do not live on trees. Some resides in ponds or wetland. They are available in almost every continent except Antarctica but the maximum variety is found in South America and Central America.
  • The male frogs have a special call known as the advertisement call with which they attract the female for mating. Each species has their particular and distinct call. Most people are used to the call “Ribbet.”
  • Certain species of the tree frog develops directly and hatch out as small adults instead of tadpoles. Generally tadpoles emerge out of eggs that eventually lose their tails and grow developed limbs.

These frogs can breathe through skin and are quite sensitive to special changes in the environment. Sudden climatic change or excess pollution is a threat to them and their species.

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