tree frog or tree frog (woodweed) is a frog that belongs to the type of chordates, the class of amphibians (amphibians), the tailless order, the tree frog family (lat. Hylidae).

The family received its Latin name due to its unusual colorful appearance. The first researchers compared these unusual animals with beautiful tree nymphs, which was reflected in his verbal definition. Russian concept The “frog” appeared, apparently, due to the characteristic loud voice of an amphibian.

Tree frog (tree frog) - description, structure, characteristics.

Due to the fact that the tree frog family includes a huge number of species, appearance These amphibians are very diverse. Some tree frogs are characterized by a flattened body structure with legs that look like knotted twigs, while other tree frogs have resemblance with small frogs, and in still others the body is flabby, as if slightly swollen. However feature, inherent in almost all species, is the presence on the fingertips of peculiar suction discs covered with a thin layer of mucus.

Thanks to the vacuum that forms under the surface of the disks as a result of the displacement of air from under them, the tailless tree frog easily moves not only along the trunks, branches and leaves of plants, but also along any smooth surface, including vertical ones. Large trees in the process of moving along steep planes can help themselves with the moist skin of the abdomen or throat. However, there are species of tree frogs with an underdeveloped ability to suck. It is compensated by the special structure of the fingers on the hind and fore limbs, resembling a human hand with a thumb extended. Such frogs slowly climb trees, alternately grabbing branches.

The color of tree frogs depends on the species and can be very diverse. Most of them have a camouflage color in green or brownish tones with various stains, which helps the frog to easily hide among twigs and leaves. However, there are species of tree frogs that have a bright color with contrasting stripes or spots.

The eyes of tree frogs are large and protrude slightly, thanks to which binocular coverage of the environment is achieved, allowing them to successfully hunt and jump from branch to branch. Most amphibians are characterized by horizontal pupils, although there are species in which they are located vertically.

Sexual dimorphism in treeworts is manifested in the difference in the size of males and females, which are much larger than males, and sometimes in color. In addition, the male tree frog has special body, called the throat bag, when inflated, it makes sounds.

Where does the tree frog (tree frog) live?

The distribution range of tree frogs captures temperate zone Europe, including Poland, the Netherlands, Norway and Lithuania, Belarus and Romania, central part Russia and Moldova, as well as Ukraine. Numerous species tree frogs live in North and South America, China and Korea, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan and Egypt, Turkey, Japan, Primorye and Australia. The habitat of these amphibians is humid tropical and subtropical forests, broad-leaved and mixed stands, as well as the coast of reservoirs or slow rivers, wetlands and overgrown ravines.

What do tree frogs (tree frogs) eat?

The food of tree frogs is varied: tree frogs feed on various, and, as well as and. Amphibians usually go hunting at night. They lie in wait for prey and trap it using their vision and long, sticky tongue.

Types of tree frogs (tree frogs) - photos and names.

The numerous family of tree frogs is divided into 3 subfamilies, which include more than 900 species. The most famous and interesting of them:

Subfamily Hylinae:

• widespread along the coasts of shallow water bodies or slow-moving rivers, in flooded ditches and marshy areas of the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. The size of an adult male tree frog does not exceed 1.9 cm, and females - 3.8 cm. The skin of the back and sides, covered with warts, is gray-brown in color with yellowish-green hues and dark spots of an indefinite shape. The belly of the tree frog is decorated with bright green or brown stripes, and on the elongated muzzle, a dark spot in the form of a triangle located between the eyes is clearly visible. The hind limbs of the amphibian are relatively short with long fingers connected by a swimming membrane. The sounds of the male tree frog during the breeding season are reminiscent of the knocking of small stones against each other. These amphibians lead an active daily lifestyle. In case of danger, they can jump up to 0.9 m high.

• Cricket tree frog (lat.Acris gryllus) lives in North America near small reservoirs, wet ravines overgrown with dense grassy vegetation, as well as swampy streams and river sources. The skin of the tree frog, devoid of warts, is brown or gray-brown with dark, almost black spots, which are bordered by a light green rim. In females, a white spot on the neck is clearly visible. A distinctive feature of this type of tree frog is the ability to change color, adapting to the environment. The fingers of the long hind limbs of the frog are interconnected by a swimming membrane. The body length of adult females can reach 33 mm, and males - 29 mm. The life expectancy of the cricket tree frog in natural conditions rarely exceeds 1 year. Treeworts lead a solitary lifestyle, gathering in large clusters only during the breeding season. Due to the similarity of the frog's voice with the roulades of crickets, the name "cricket tree frog" appeared.

• lives in damp tropical forests South America included in the ecological system of the Amazon basin. These frogs can be found in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname, Peru, Guiana, as well as Ecuador and Bolivia. The size of the females of this species of frogs can be 5 cm, but the males have more modest dimensions. The head of a frog with large bulging eyes is slightly expanded compared to the elongated narrow body. Long fingers on the hind and fore limbs end in well-developed suckers. The color of the skin on the back and sides of the piebald tree frog is quite diverse and can be from greenish-brown to red with a brown tint. On the main tone, patterns of white spots or stripes are clearly visible, creating characteristic mesh patterns. The belly of piebald tree frogs is painted in a bright red-orange color. Solitary individuals spend the bulk of their lives on trees, descending from them only during the breeding season. Pied tree frogs are most active during twilight and night hours.

• lives in the forests and forest-steppes of Poland, the Netherlands, Belarus, Norway, Lithuania and Ukraine, the USA, Korea, Turkey and Japan, the states of northwestern Africa, China and Primorye. The sizes of adult female frogs reach 53 mm, males are slightly smaller. The grassy-green, brown, bluish or dark gray coloration of the back and sides of the tree frog can easily change in accordance with the basic color of the environment or due to the physiological state of the animal. The belly of the common tree frog is white or yellowish. The coloration of the back and abdomen is clearly separated by a dark stripe running along the sides of the body and head. Tree frogs spend ordinary daytime hours among the foliage of shrubs or trees, and at twilight and at night they hunt insects. Under natural conditions, these frogs live no more than 12 years.

• widely distributed in southern North America. Prefers tree or shrub thickets along the coast of natural and artificial reservoirs, as well as wet ravines or wetlands. The body of the frog is slender, with a triangular head. Its length in adult females can reach 60 mm. The eyes of a tree frog are medium in size, slightly protruding, golden brown in color, with vertical pupils. The smooth skin of the back is painted in grassy green color and separated from the beige belly by a thin white stripe. At the ends of the fingers of the hind and fore limbs of the frog there are suction cups, with the help of which the tree frog easily moves not only along the branches and leaves, but also on the surface of the earth. The amphibian leads a solitary lifestyle, gathering in large communities only during mating. Shows activity at night. The life expectancy of a frog in natural conditions can reach 6 years.

• is a typical inhabitant of the forest thickets of North America. The length of the baggy body of a frog can reach 7 cm in females and 5 cm in males. The yellowish belly contrasts with the back, which is colored in green, on which the pattern formed by dark green spots is clearly visible. Finger suckers are quite large. The tree frog got its name from the barking sounds that male frogs make during the mating season. Barking tree frogs spend most of their lives among the branches, high above the ground, however, there are individuals who prefer to live near water bodies. Amphibians are active at night, and during the day they sleep off, hiding in the hollow of a tree or on the ground under fallen bark. Barking tree frogs form short-term pairs only for the continuation of offspring. Under natural conditions, frogs live 7 years.

• lives in mixed or deciduous forests of Mexico, Canada or the USA. Populations of these amphibians are noted near artificial or natural reservoirs and deep damp ravines. The sizes of frogs do not exceed 51 mm. The color of the wrinkled skin of the back can be either gray with a beige tint or green, and the belly can be white. On the back of the tree frog, a pattern in the form of an oblique cross of black stripes clearly appears, which borders barely noticeable spots of an indefinite shape. It is noteworthy that depending on the temperature environment, humidity and season, the color of the variable tree frog can vary greatly. The average life expectancy of changeable tree frogs does not exceed 6 years.

• Cuban tree frog (lat.osteopilus septentrionalis) - This is the largest tree frog in the world. It lives in shrubs and woody thickets near water bodies. The distribution area includes the Bahamas and Cayman Islands, Cuba and the southern states of the United States. The average size of these frogs ranges from 11.5 to 12.5 cm, however, individual individuals can reach 15 cm in size, which makes them the largest tree frogs in the family. The color of the skin of the back, covered with tubercles, is slightly different in males and females. So, for females of tree frogs, beige or green tones are characteristic, and for males - brown. On the paws of the tree frog, transverse stripes of a lighter or darker color are visible. The suckers on the fingers are well developed. The Cuban tree frog hunts at night, sleeping during the day among the bushes.

Subfamily Australian tree frogs or litoria (lat. Pelodryadinae):

• coral-fingered litoria or Australian white tree frog (lat.Litoria caerulea) lives in the subtropical forests of Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. Sizes of adult females reach 130 mm, while males rarely exceed 70 mm. The head of the Australian tree frog is short and broad, with large, bulging eyes with a horizontal pupil. The skin of the frog is colored in various shades of green, but can be chestnut or turquoise, with white or golden spots. The belly is colored pinkish or White color. The inside of the tree frog's legs may be red-brown in color. In addition to suckers on the fingers, amphibians have small membranes. The Australian white tree frog is nocturnal. The life expectancy of coral-toed litorium in natural conditions can reach 20 years.

SubfamilyPhyllomedusinae:

• lives on the upper tiers of low-lying and foothill wet rainforest Central and South America. The sizes of adult males rarely reach 5.4-5.6 cm, and females do not exceed 7.5 cm. The surface of the skin is smooth. The back of the frog is colored green, and the belly is cream or white. The sides and bases of the limbs are blue, with a distinct yellow pattern. The toes of tree-climbing limbs are bright orange and have suction pads. characteristic feature red-eyed tree frogs are red eyes with a vertical pupil. Despite its bright color, these tree frogs are not poisonous. They are most active at night. The maximum lifespan of the red-eyed tree frog in natural conditions does not exceed 5 years.

The world's largest and smallest tree frog (tree frog).

The smallest " forest nymphs» Litoria microbelos with a body length of up to 16 mm and the tree frog Hyla emrichi (Dendropsophus minutus), which has a body size of only about 17 mm, are considered. It is noteworthy that this baby is capable of jumping up to 0.75 m in length, which is almost 50 times the length of its body.

The largest tree frog in the world is the Cuban tree frog (lat. Osteopilus septentrionalis), growing up to 150 mm.

In addition to the above types of tree frogs, there are a huge number of varieties of tree frogs, the color of which is simply amazing:

Chaka phyllomedusa Phyllomedusa sauvagii

Common tree frog, keeping at home

Common tree frog (Hyla arborea) or European tree frog is a small green tree frog measuring 3 to 5 cm in length. The common tree frog is more suitable for keeping in greenhouses and greenhouses, since the frog jumps well and can hit glass in a terrarium, but keeping in a terrarium is possible.

Description

The common tree frog is bright green, olive green, grey, yellow or brown in color and smooth. The bottom of the frog is white/cream in color, with a granular structure. A dark stripe runs from the nostrils down the body to the thigh on each side of the frog.

The hind legs of the common tree frog are much larger than the front legs and stronger, which allows the frogs to jump quickly. Frogs have sticky discs on each toe that allow the common tree frog to climb on surfaces. The common tree frog has horizontal pupils and a very distinctive croaking sound. On the Greek Hyla means barking.

Habitat, behavior

Common tree frogs are found throughout Europe and Western Asia. Prefer overgrown areas near water, most life is spent on dry land. During the day, common tree frogs usually sit on wide leaves, basking in the sun (they lose relatively little moisture due to the properties of the skin), and spend the night on the ground in search of insects, spiders and snails. In nature, it feeds mainly on insects, mainly flying, jumping after them.

From April to July, male common tree frogs gather in water bodies for night singing, which can be heard from a kilometer away. Females visit the reservoir only for one night.

AT winter months common tree frog hibernates.

The common tree frog is somewhat similar in content to the herding tree frog, barking tree frog, changeable tree frog, however, the changeable tree frog prefers more high temperatures. It is very easy to keep the common tree frog at home, it is not required optional equipment and heating.

It is best to keep the common tree frog outdoors, in well-ventilated greenhouses and conservatories. They can also spend the winter there if you provide them with a large container with moss and leaves.

Common tree frogs are much less demanding, cheaper and more profitable to keep than tropical tree frogs.

The common tree frog is a small frog, but very active and jumps long distances, so it requires a glass terrarium of at least 45 x 45 x 60 cm. If kept in a smaller terrarium, frogs can hit their snouts on the glass while jumping.

Place the terrarium in a cool place away from direct sun rays. No additional heating is usually required. The heating zone, if done, is with a sufficiently low temperature.

Content temperature: daytime 18-25ºC; night temperature 13-18ºC.

It is useful to use lamps with UV lighting in the terrarium, frogs can rest under it as if under sunlight. But this is not necessary, ordinary tree frogs are nocturnal creatures; ordinary daylight for 12 hours a day is enough for them.

Relative humidity in the terrarium should be 60-90%. The terrarium should have a shallow bowl of water (the common tree frog is not very fond of swimming), and the ground should be sprayed daily.

In the terrarium, you can use live plants, such as philodendron or golden epipremnum, broad-leaved ferns, as well as smooth stones, tree branches (previously boiled for disinfection).

Feeding

The common tree frog is usually fed with crickets, flies, fly larvae, and grasshoppers. Vitamin and mineral supplements with calcium are offered once a week.

It is no coincidence that this small frog most often falls into the terrariums of amateurs: after all, it is famous for its excellent appetite, peaceful character and interesting behavior. Keeping an ordinary tree frog at home is not difficult, and the only inconvenience that lies in wait for future owners is the morning "concerts" hosted by males from time to time. However, even such a problem can be solved - but more on that later.

If in March-April you find yourself at a forest lake, then it is likely that you will hear loud sounds of "crack" repeated five to seven, or even more times. If, moreover, you are observant and try to determine where the local "singer" is sitting, find out that it is by no means in the water, as one might assume. And most likely - in the reeds or in the leaves of coastal trees. Cautiously approaching the place where the marriage song sounds, take a closer look - and notice a small frog with disks on its fingertips. This is the common tree frog - the only representative of domestic amphibians that spends most of its life on trees (it's not for nothing that its name in Latin means "wood tree").


Frogs spend most of their lives outside water bodies. Typical habitats of these amphibians are broad-leaved and mixed forests, banks of reclamation canals and river valleys overgrown with shrubs and tall grass. Often, tree frogs are found in settlements- for example, in Belarus, in the Brest region, in the city of Byaroza, trees were found right on the windows of individual houses.

Of course, for a safe "life at heights" certain body skills and special "tools" are required. Disks on the fingertips act as such “biodevices”. These extensions on the underside are covered with five-to-six-sided tubercles, the number of which can reach up to 13-20 thousand on one finger!

According to the mode of action, the discs resemble rubber suction cups; their structure is so efficient that tree frogs are able to sit for hours on an absolutely smooth surface (for example, glass) without much effort. Additional help is provided by a peculiar cellular structure of the skin on the throat and abdomen, where there are special glands. These glands secrete a sticky liquid, so that the tree frog seems to stick to the surface, "embracing" it with its skin.

But that's not all! Like chameleons, woodworts can change skin color. The main causes of color change are temperature and relative humidity. So, with a decrease in temperature and an increase in humidity, amphibians darken (this usually happens before wintering). Under similar conditions created in a terrarium, a change in the color of individual individuals from bright green to dark gray with a brown tint was observed. We add that tree frogs almost always darken even if they feel uncomfortable.

The most suitable time to catch these amphibians is in spring, the breeding season, when they gather near water bodies. In summer, tree frogs spend most of their time on trees, bushes or tall herbaceous plants, and it is very difficult to notice them due to their camouflage coloration. The diet of woodworms is 96% composed of various forms invertebrates (with 15-20% flying). Usually tree frogs feed on leaf beetles, flea beetles, caterpillars, click beetles, ants, etc.

These amphibians are most active at dusk. Before "going hunting", they descend into dewy grass or a pond in order to take a bath. During the day, especially in dry weather, the skin of amphibians evaporates a huge amount of moisture, and water supplies, of course, need to be replenished. The liquid rather quickly enters the body of tree frogs through the skin, and soon tree frogs can already start eating. They return to the top, into the foliage, and lie in wait for prey.

When catching prey, tree frogs, as a rule, use not only a long sticky tongue - they often make dizzying jumps, picking up an insect in the air. In this case, woodworts are forced to take into account two trajectories at the same time - for the head with the tongue and for the paws. The tongue should "meet" the victim, and the paws should grab onto something in time and prevent a fall.

At the same time, tree frogs aim with one turn of their heads, and not moving with their whole body, like, say, frogs or toads. Having grabbed the prey, which cannot be swallowed immediately, the woodworms help themselves with their front paws, pushing the resisting insect into the mouth.

At the same time, tree frogs "wink", slightly pressing their eyeballs inwards - as if they are squinting with pleasure. In fact, this game of blind man's buff allows the amphibian to push the prey further into the esophagus with the lower edge of the eyeballs.

A very important period in the life of tree frogs is wintering. Treewomen go to her at the end of September - in October; hide in hollows, abandoned burrows, voids under roots and forest floor, in crevices of stone houses, basements, in silt at the bottom of reservoirs, etc. As a rule, not all tree frogs survive severe frosts.

These amphibians emerge relatively early from wintering. In the southern regions, already in March, one can hear individual "soloists" resounding with their "cracks" on the shores of reservoirs. Tree frogs "scream" with the help of a superbly developed throat resonator (unlike real frogs, in which two resonators are located on the sides of the head). At the same time, the skin on the throat is inflated into a small golden ball; releasing air from there, males make sounds similar to duck quacking, but of a higher tone.

It is by the presence or absence of a resonator on the throat that it is easiest to determine the sex of a tree frog. Naturally, you will not wait until the "bird sings" - after all, she may not "sing" if it is a female. It is much easier to carefully turn the animal over and see what color the skin on its lower jaw is. If it's white, it's a female; if it's golden, it's a male. At the same time, it should be remembered that tree frogs reach sexual maturity in the third or fourth year of life, and the skin of the young is likely to be equally white.

Another way to determine the sex of tree frogs (and almost all anurans) is to imitate amplexus. Amplexus is the position of the male on the female during the breeding season, when the male picks up and squeezes the female from the sides, under her front paws.

In nature, confusion can very often occur, and “in a fit of passion”, without understanding properly who is in front of him, the male is able to grab the male in amplexus. Once in such a piquant position, the male from below emits a special cry with the help of a resonator, which can be roughly translated as "go away, pervert!".

So, if you take any tailless amphibian (including a tree frog) and carefully (!) squeeze it from the sides behind the front paws, the male will definitely inflate the resonator a little and, most likely, will croak.

But even if he silently takes down your "dirty harassment", all the same, the sagging skin in the place where the resonator should be will unmistakably tell you: this is a male. And vice versa, in the event that all squeezing did not lead to anything, you have a representative of the weaker sex in front of you.

So, in May, in the same reservoirs, on the banks of which the males "gave concerts" all spring, mating and spawning begin. The fecundity of tree frogs is relatively low - 500-1400 eggs, which the female lays in portions of 4-100 pieces in the form of small lumps. At the beginning - about 70%, the second portion is only 20%, and the last - only 10%. It has been established that the number and size of eggs increase with the age of females. So, two-year-old tree frogs lay about 500 eggs with a diameter slightly less than 1 mm, three-year-olds - about 800 pieces with a diameter of 1.2 mm, four-year-olds - about 1100 pieces with a diameter of 1.4 mm, and five-year-olds - more than 1300 with a diameter of 1.6 mm.

Treeworts prefer to spawn in stagnant, well-warmed reservoirs. Tree frogs usually spawn at night (after 11 p.m.), one pair copes with this in 1-6 hours.

AT adverse conditions caviar is able to remain viable for a long time. Since its lumps lie at the bottom or among aquatic vegetation, it is difficult to notice them - and there are enough lovers to eat caviar in nature (almost all aquatic predators, some birds, etc.).

The development of embryos occurs within 8-12 days. Then tadpoles develop for 80-90 days, and only then they go through the process of metamorphosis. The larvae of tree frogs are olive-yellow in color with a metallic sheen on the abdomen. The caudal fin is wide, pointed at the end, the dorsal crest begins approximately at eye level. On the upper lip oral disc - 2 rows of cloves, on the lower - 3. Having passed the process of metamorphosis, young treeworts at first stay mainly on the grass near water bodies and are very active during the day. As a rule, therefore, it is they who most often fall into the terrariums of amateurs.

If you decide to have these cute animals in your home, first of all take care of a home for them. Tree frogs need a vertical type terrarium, i.e. one in which the height will be greater than the length and width, with a shallow body of water and dense vegetation. Unlike their foreign relatives, common tree frogs do not break stems and leaves, only the largest individuals can occasionally harm a particular plant. Therefore, you can get creative with the design of the terrarium. True, it should be remembered: the terrarium should be equipped so that it is convenient to clean it.

It is best to put a drainage layer on the bottom (for example, fine expanded clay), and on top - sphagnum moss. Plants are best planted in flower pots, which are installed at the bottom and decorated outside with the same moss. The most suitable for a terrarium with tree frogs are numerous representatives of aroids and bromeliads; in the latter case, it is necessary to avoid specimens with leaves on which spines grow.

Woodworms do not need a deep pool, so it is enough to place a small photocell in the terrarium, where fresh, settled water at room temperature should be added as necessary. It is also advisable to spray the terrarium with a sprayer several times a week and water the plants daily.

The question often arises: is it possible to put a snag in a terrarium for tree frogs? Since amateurs are most often not able to properly disinfect wood, sooner or later such a "snag" gives rise to a certain number of problems. It is best to pick up this piece of terrarium decoration at the Bird Market or pet store, or limit yourself to a certain number of tall and climbing plants. The latter can also be planted in flowerpots specially glued from glass and attached to the walls of the terrarium.

We must not forget that living plants need constant care, mineral supplements, pruning, etc. As an alternative option, some hobbyists (who can afford it) opt for artificial plants.

A few words about the "electrification" of the terrarium. Depending on its volume, a light bulb is also selected (fluorescent or incandescent, combined lamps are also possible). The main thing is that all electrical wiring is outside! - after all, in a terrarium with tree frogs, it is necessary to maintain a relatively high level of humidity.

And one more thing: it is better to build a door in a terrarium on the side and at least not leave the top open - you are dealing with first-class climbers. Otherwise, you will have to look for fugitives throughout the room.

Now about the animals themselves. You select their number depending on your own capabilities - remember, the more tree frogs you have in the terrarium, the more food they need and the larger the terrarium itself should be. Try not to keep many males at once if possible - unless, of course, you need a free morning alarm clock.

It is best to feed the animals with tweezers, especially if you have several tree frogs. In this case, you will not only be able to control the amount of food that each inhabitant of the terrarium receives, but also, if necessary, begin to feed certain doses of vitamins. Since an overdose can lead to the death of the animal, the ability to control the amount of multivitamin complex fed is very important.

Very quickly tree frogs, even taken from nature, get used to human hands and to tweezers. Since treeworts use their tongues to grab their prey, you'll have to work hard to retrain them. But over time - and very quickly - tree frogs begin to "figure out" what's what and grab the insect with their jaws, so you can safely open the tweezers and let the amphibian swallow food. The diet of woodworms includes almost all invertebrates. At home, it is most convenient to feed them with special fodder cockroaches, flies, etc.

It is better not to lay animals for wintering, replacing it with a small temperature (12-14 ° C) and light diapause, during which the animals are not fed. As for tree frog breeding at home, I'm afraid this is unlikely to succeed - mainly because of the "sound attack" that not only you, but also your neighbors will be subjected to. However, if there is such a desire - go for it and good luck to you!

But even limiting yourself to the content of woodworts, you will get great pleasure watching these interesting and cute amphibians.

tree frog extraordinary

Brest region - all

Gomel region - except north

Grodno region - except for Oshmyany and Smorgon districts

Minsk region - west and south

Frog family (Hylidae).

In Belarus, it is distributed in the south and southwest. The range border runs approximately along the Oshmyany-Uzda-Slutsk-Svetlogorsk-Gomel line. To the north of this border, the common tree frog was not found. The nominative subspecies Hyla arborea arborea lives in Belarus.

One of the smallest and most original species of amphibians of the republic. Body length 3.5-4.5 cm, weight 3.8-8.2 g. The body is slender, the limbs are relatively thin and long, the fingertips are widened into disks that provide climbing on vertical surfaces. The discs help stick to leaves, branches, trunk and other surfaces (even glass) due to the fact that they are rich in lymphatic spaces and mucous glands. The pupil is oval, located horizontally. The tympanic membrane is round, smaller eyes. The skin on the back is smooth, and on the ventral part of the body it is somewhat granular. The male has a vocal sac on the throat under the skin. Males are slightly larger than females.

The back is bright green, the belly is yellowish-white. The top is separated from the bottom by a thin black stripe widening behind, forming a loop upwards in the groin area. Above the dark stripe has a white border. The color can change (to dark green, brownish, completely black or even gray with a metallic sheen) depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment. With a decrease in temperature and an increase in humidity, the animals darken. However, even in completely identical natural conditions, tree frogs of various colors can be found.

Larvae are olive-yellowish above, with a metallic sheen on the abdomen. The caudal fin is wide, pointed at the end, the dorsal crest begins almost at eye level. There are 2 rows of teeth on the upper lip of the oral disc, and 3 on the lower lip.

The most typical habitats of tree frogs in Belarus are broad-leaved and mixed forests, shrubs, and some meadows. They are also found in settlements - in parks and gardens. The distribution of tree frogs is associated with broad-leaved forests, growing mainly in the southern part of Belarus. Most often, tree frogs are found in the Pripyat basin, as well as in the floodplain zone of the Neman. Most often they live in near-floodplain oak forests, alder forests, in floodplain meadows overgrown with shrubs, along the banks of reclamation canals. Population density on land can reach 40-125 individuals/ha.

It is easier to see the tree frog in the spring (April-May) during the breeding season, when they concentrate near the breeding ponds. In summer, they spend most of their time on trees, bushes or tall herbaceous plants (usually on rush), it is very difficult to notice them due to the masking color of the body. This is the reason for the misconception about the rarity of the species in Belarus.

On the clearings of the Pripyat Landscape and Hydrological Reserve in summer (June-July) there are only 1-2 individuals per 1 km of the route. In the spring, during the breeding season, the density of tree frogs in these places increases 10 times. In early August, along the banks of the reclamation ditch in the Pripyat floodplain in the Stolin region, from 7 to 28 tree frogs per 1 km of the route (80% of underyearlings) were noted.

This species is more resistant to desiccation than other amphibians. In a dry atmosphere, a frog loses up to 30% of its mass without any harm and quickly restores it when it finds itself in water or on moist soil.

The tree frogs begin their most intense hunting at dusk. Before that, they "take a bath" in dew or a pond to renew through the skin the moisture reserves that have been wasted a lot during the day, especially in dry weather. Moisture recovery is very fast. The tree frog not only climbs trees well, but makes long jumps, which is very effective when hunting flying insects. The discs rich in mucous glands, which are located at the fingertips, help it stick to leaves, branches and tree trunks.

In the ability to swim, they are not much inferior to water frogs, and in the ability to jump and climb far surpass them.

When catching insects, tree frogs, like frogs, throw out a long sticky tongue and capture the prey with it. If the prey is too large, the tree frogs stuff it into their mouths with the help of their front paws. The overwhelming majority (96%) of tree frogs feed on terrestrial forms, with about 15-20% of them flying.The diet includes various invertebrates: Diptera (13.9%), spiders (12.4%), leaf beetles (9.0%), bedbugs (7.5%), ants (7.5%), click beetles (7 .0%) and weevils (5.5%). Flying insects play a prominent role in the diet of this species. Feeding does not stop during the breeding season. Cannibalism is known only in tadpoles, they quite often eat the eggs of their own species.

Due to its mode of existence, tree frogs probably have few enemies. Tree frogs are sometimes eaten by storks, herons, foxes, raccoon dogs and badgers, snakes.

Tree frogs emerge relatively early from wintering. First, the males wake up, and the females come out only 6-8 days later. In Polissya, as well as in the western part of the Grodno region, in the first ten days of April, at an air temperature above 6-8 ° C, they are already found in water bodies. At the same time, they can be seen on old vegetation, most often on rushes along the coastline of water bodies. Already in April on warm days, especially in the evening and at night, males begin their concerts. The sounds that they make, thanks to a well-developed internal resonator in the throat, which inflates like a balloon, are very strong, reminiscent of the quacking of ducks, but of a higher tone. In other sources, these sounds are indicated as a loud rhythmic sound "te-te-te". Until the end of April, almost all males join the choir. Usually they start at dusk (21.00-21.30), but in spring they can often be heard in the afternoon, especially in warm cloudy weather.

Intensive concerts continue until the end of May, but tree frogs' vocalizations last until the middle or end of July, sometimes a little later.

It is in May that mating and spawning takes place. At this time, the air temperature rises to 12-23°C. Males have very poorly developed marriage calluses in the form of darkening, but cover females, like toads, under the armpits.

For breeding, tree frogs prefer water bodies with banks bordered by reeds, bushes and trees that warm up well, 0.4-0.5 m deep. Local accumulations of tree frogs consist of 15-20 adult males and several females, but their composition is constantly changing. The proportion of females is always significantly lower than that of males and the male/female ratio varies from 1:15 to 1:5. This imbalance is explained by the fact that females stay in the reservoir for no more than 1-2 days and leave it after spawning. The average density in breeding groups is 3-5 individuals of both sexes per 10-15 m².

The fecundity of the tree frog is relatively low, about 800-1000 eggs (375-1725), which the female lays in portions of 4-100 eggs in the form of 2-6 small lumps. The diameter of the egg is 1-1.5 mm, and together with the shell 4 mm. Often, eggs are laid in shallow coastal waters of lakes, in thickets, in reclamation canals, in low-lying water bodies on the edges. Spawning occurs mainly at night (after 11 p.m.) and takes one pair from 1 to 6 hours. Tree frog eggs can be fertilized on land, and its eggs are able to resist drying out for a long time and can remain viable for quite a long time in adverse conditions. It is difficult to see it in a pond because it lies on the bottom or is attached to aquatic vegetation.Tree frogs are able to use small accumulations of water in the axils of the leaves of some plants and in hollows for laying caviar. The peculiarity of tree frog caviar is that it (like adult animals) can resist drying out for quite a long time, so its death is prevented if an almost dried-up reservoir is restored again with heavy rainfall.

Viktor Belorusets, Kobrin district (Brest region)

Tree frogs, or tree frogs, are called frogs that live on trees. On the one hand, they are close to real frogs, leading a terrestrial lifestyle. On the other hand, they are closely related to poison dart frogs - extremely poisonous amphibians. The harmless tree frogs themselves stand out in a separate family, in which there are 901 species. It should be noted that the classification of these amphibians is complicated by confusion in the names. The exact division into frogs, tree frogs and tree frogs exists only in Russian scientific literature, while in European languages there is the concept of a frog (ordinary) and tree frogs (they mean tree frogs and poison dart frogs).

red-eyed tree frog(Agalychnis callidryas).

In connection with such a specific way of life among tree frogs, animals of small size predominate. The smallest of them, miniature litoria, reaches a length of only 1.6 cm, the largest long-legged litoria grows up to 13.5 cm. The body shape of tree frogs can also be different. Some species have a massive, flabby body, others look like neat tiny frogs, while others have a flattened body, and the paws look like broken sticks. However, all tree frogs have a common feature - the ends of their fingers are flattened and similar in shape to small disks. Such fingers act as suction cups and hold the tree frog on the smooth surface of the leaves. The suction force of the disks is so great that tree frogs can hold without the slightest effort not only on horizontal and inclined surfaces, but even on vertical ones (for example, on the glass of a terrarium) or upside down. Most large species in addition to fingers, the wet surface of the abdomen and throat is involved in suction.

Australian white tree frog, or coral-toed litoria (Litoria caerulea).

The coloring of tree frogs is very diverse. Among them are nondescript individuals, decorated with brownish stains that imitate bark or fallen leaves; there are species with contrastingly colored abdomen and legs (red, blue, orange, striped).

The beautiful narrow-mouthed tree frog (Microhyla pulchra) fully justifies its name: its body is covered with the finest stains, similar to a saw cut tree or noble marble.

But for the most part, tree frogs have a green color, which perfectly camouflages them among branches and lush foliage. Interestingly, the same individual can noticeably change its shade depending on the air temperature and mood. For example, the pallor of the common tree frog indicates that it is cold, and the darkening is a sign that it is angry. Sexual dimorphism in these amphibians is noticeable: males are 1.5-2 times smaller than females, and in some species they are also colored differently.

Triangular tree frog (Hyla leucophyllata).

Since tree frogs are closely associated with the upper tiers of the forest, they live mainly in the tropics, where plants develop. all year round. greatest species diversity reach during moist forests South and Central America and also in Australia. in Africa and North America there are few of them, and in Asia and Europe only one species lives. The northernmost representatives are the common tree frog ( Western Europe, Belarus, Western Ukraine, European part Russia), Far Eastern (Korea, Japan, Northern China, Primorye), royal (western USA) and whistling (Canada, eastern USA) - hibernate for the winter. Other species are active all year round.

According to the time of daily activity, tree frogs are divided into nocturnal and diurnal species, and both of them have a feature rare for amphibians - binocular vision. The eyes of tree frogs are large and directed slightly forward, due to which the same area falls simultaneously into the field of view of the right and left eyes. This allows them to high precision determine the distance to prey or a neighboring branch, so that they make error-free jumps.

The third eyelid of the red-eyed tree frog looks like an openwork mesh, which allows it to see around even with half-closed eyes.

Frogs have mastered the art of balancing to perfection. They can not only stick to flat surfaces, but also sit on thin branches, wrapping their fingers around them, like birds. If necessary, they step from leaf to leaf, alternately moving their limbs. In case of danger or in pursuit of prey, they can jump up to 75 cm. To climb vertically, tree frogs need to alternately “turn on” and “turn off” sticky fingers. This function is regulated by the production of mucus and the force of pressing the finger against the leaf. The exception is phyllomedusa. In these tree frogs, the discs are very poorly developed, but one toe on the paw is opposed to the rest (like in humans). Such a grasping type of limb makes these amphibians look like chameleons, and their gait is the same: the phyllomedusa moves very slowly and carefully, thinking for a long time before grabbing onto the next branch. But her grip strength is so huge that a person is able to tear this tree frog from a branch only by breaking her paw.

The red-eyed tree frog's habitual way of moving along the branches is walking on raised paws.

It is not easy for tree frogs to develop relationships with water. The most primitive species (for example, the common tree frog) are excellent swimmers and, in general, spend a lot of time on the ground like real frogs. highly specialized tropical species often visit water bodies only during the breeding season, and phyllomedusas do not know how to swim at all and in every possible way avoid open water bodies!

Orange-sided phyllomedusa (Phyllomedusa tomopterna).

The voices of these amphibians are loud, but they sound different. In an ordinary tree frog, the song is similar to a duck “cre-cre-cre,” in a pearl tree it is like a melodic bird trill, in a giant litorium it is like a dog barking (in case of danger, a meow), in a slender tree frog it is like a slap with an oar in the water, red - to the creak of a knife on glass, and the blacksmith tree frog is named so for its voice, reminiscent of a hammer on metal.

The diet of tree frogs is 98% invertebrates, of which 15-20% are flying insects. They prey on butterflies, ants, termites, cockroaches, crickets, psyllids and leaf beetles. Less common are caterpillars, snails, geckos, and tiny frogs.

They breed 1-2 times a year. Like all amphibians, the development of embryos in tree frogs can occur only in aquatic environment. But how to provide it in the crowns of trees? This problem was solved by different species in their own way. tree frogs middle lane, where the humidity in the forest is not very high, they do not hesitate to take a walk to the nearest pond or river on this occasion. Here they spawn, after the tadpole stage young tree frogs leave water bodies.

Tadpole of common tree frog (Hyla arborea).

Tropical species enjoy the gifts of nature, laying eggs in the axils of leaves and large flowers where rain moisture always accumulates. In these micro-reservoirs, the development of juveniles takes place. The Brazilian tree frog has learned to create such pools for fry herself. To do this, she finds a hollow and coats it with resinous secretions, which provide ideal waterproofing. After that, it remains only to wait for the first downpour, which will fill the hollow with water and turn it into a cradle for eggs. Some of the tree frogs lay their eggs directly on the surface of the leaves, where they are all the time. A transparent sticky mucus that retains water helps them not to dry out. This mucus is so effective that banana tree frogs have caviar extracted from it and placed in clean water, perishes.

Mating and clutch formation in red-eyed tree frogs.

The male frog frog takes care of the offspring in a very unusual way. When a female responds to his calling cry, he fertilizes her eggs and ... continues to flirt. Soon, another chosen one appears, which also lays eggs in the same place. But the male no longer fertilizes the second portion of eggs. These eggs are destined for the role of food for the tadpoles of the first female.

Bag of common marsupial tree frog (Gastrotheca marsupiata).

But marsupial tree frogs surpassed all in parental care. In females of this species, folds of skin on the back form a bag. During mating, the cloaca of the female turns inside out and the laid eggs, fertilized by the male on the go, immediately fall into the bag. Hatching continues until the juveniles become similar to adults.

Horned marsupial tree frog (Gastrotheca cornuta) with its offspring.

Tree frogs have many enemies. They are hunted by snakes large lizards, monitor lizards, various birds and even insects, such as large praying mantises. But tree frogs have learned to withstand numerous dangers. Firstly, they are perfectly masked by the outfit - inconspicuously invisible (like bark and soil), or grassy green (like leaves), or dissected-contrasting (as if a flower was lost among the greenery). The action of the outfit enhances immobility. In extreme cases, the tree frog can jump. But don't think that running away is the only way to protect yourself. Some tree frogs, in case of danger, tip over with their belly up and pretend to be dead. Finally, there are those whose skin, when attacked, releases a corrosive liquid. Among the latter species is the toad-like tree frog, which warns of its inedibility with an unusual color - gray-milky blue. This tree frog even has a bright turquoise inside its mouth.

Toad frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix).

The study of tree frogs continues to this day. Every year new species are found in the tropics. Unfortunately, many of them have a limited range and immediately after the discovery are on the verge of extinction. Due to their bright colors, unusual voices and interesting behavior, tree frogs are often kept in terrariums. These amphibians are also very durable: in captivity they live up to 15-20 years.