Red-eyed tree frog description report abstract information message photo presentation. Red-eyed tree frog - absolutely cartoonish frog Green frog with yellow legs

25.10.2019

The red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) is a tailless amphibian from the tree frog family. The species was first described by Cope in 1862. The Latin name of the species is derived from the Greek words - kallos (beautiful) and dryas (tree nymph).

The red-eyed tree frog is a small animal with large bright red eyes with vertical pupils and a nictitating membrane. The fingers are short, with thick pads, on which there are suction cups that help to move along the leaves.

The red-eyed tree frog is widespread in Central and South America (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize, Colombia, Panama). It mainly lives in tropical rainforests, near water. Inhabits the upper and middle tiers of trees. During the day and during the dry season, they hide on the underside of broad leaves.

The color of these amphibians varies within the range, the main color is green, on the sides and at the base of the paws is blue with a yellow pattern, the fingers are orange. The belly is white or cream. Some individuals have small white spots on the back. Young tree frogs (in Panama) can change their color: during the day they are green, and at night they turn purple or red-brown. Juveniles have yellow eyes instead of red ones.

Size: females - 7.5 cm, males - 5.6 cm. Life expectancy: 3-5 years.

The main enemies are reptiles: snakes (eg parrot snakes Leptophis ahaetulla), lizards and turtles, birds, small mammals (including bats). Cat-eyed snakes (Leptodeira septentrionalis), wasps (Polybia rejecta), monkeys, fly larvae Hirtodrosophila batracida and others prey on eggs. Fungal infections, such as Filamentous ascomycete, affect eggs. Tadpoles are preyed upon by large arthropods, fish and water fleas.

The red-eyed tree frog is a carnivore that eats various animals that fit in its mouth - insects (beetles, flies, moths) and arachnids, lizards and frogs.

The red-eyed tree frog is nocturnal. They have parabolic vision and a good sense of touch. During the day, frogs sleep on the underside of green leaves, hiding from predators. While resting, their eyes are covered with a translucent membrane that does not prevent the frogs from seeing. If a predator attacks a red-eyed tree frog, it sharply opens its eyes and their bright red color confuses the attacker. At the moment when the predator froze, the frog runs away. When night falls, tree frogs wake up, yawn and stretch. Despite their bright frightening color, red-eyed tree frogs are not poisonous, but their skin contains a large amount of active peptides (tachykinin, bradykinin, caerulein and demorphin).

Reproduction begins with the first rains at the beginning of the wet season. Mating occurs throughout the season, but is especially frequent in June and October. At this time, males make aggressive calls to distance other males and calls to attract females. The dominant frequency of emitted sounds ranges from 1.5-2.5 kHz. Vocalization begins with the onset of twilight and is especially intensified during rain.

When the female descends to the males, then several males can jump on her at once. As soon as amplexus occurs, the female, with the male sitting on her back, descends into the water and remains there for about ten minutes in order to absorb water through the skin. After that, the female lays her eggs on the leaves (one egg each, 30-50 in total), which hang over the water. During the breeding season, a female may mate with several males and lay up to five clutches.

The total number of red-eyed tree frogs in nature is decreasing due to the destruction of habitats.

Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordates
Class: Amphibians
Detachment: Tailless
Family: Frogs
Genus: Bright-eyed tree frogs
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The red-eyed tree frog lives in South and Central America: in Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nicaragua, Panama and Colombia.

The species was described by Cope in 1862. The Latin name of the red-eyed tree frog translates as "beautiful tree nymph."

Description of the red-eyed tree frog

Females are larger than males: the body length of females reaches 7.5 centimeters, and males - no more than 5.6 centimeters.

The red-eyed tree frog has a slender build. The body is covered with smooth skin. The main color of the body is green, on the sides of the body and on the base of the paws there is a blue color with a yellow pattern. The belly is cream or white, and the toes are orange. The coloration of red-eyed tree frogs may vary within their range. Certain individuals have small white spots in the back of the body.

The fingers are short, with pads at their tips, so red-eyed tree frogs climb more often than swim. The head is rounded, the eyes are large red with vertical pupils. The eyes are protected by a nictitating membrane that prevents dust from entering.

It is noteworthy that in Panama, juveniles are able to change color: during the day their bodies are green, and at night they turn red-brown or crimson. The eyes of the young are not red, but yellow.

The red-eyed tree frog is also called the "tree nymph".

Lifestyle of red-eyed tree frogs

The main habitats of these tree frogs are foothill and lowland tropical forests, which most often grow on the banks of water bodies. These tree frogs live in the middle or upper tier of the forest, and settle there on lianas and plant leaves.

Tree frogs are nocturnal, and in the daytime they sleep on the underside of the leaves, hiding from predators. When the tree frog is resting, a transparent membrane covers its eyes, while the frog can see. If she is in danger, she instantly opens her eyes and confuses the predator with her bright red color. These seconds are enough for the frog to instantly hide.

The main enemies of red-eyed tree frogs are snakes (mainly parrot snakes), small mammals, birds and tree lizards. The average life expectancy of the red-eyed tree frog is 3-5 years.

The bright color of the red-eyed tree frog scares off predators.

Tadpoles are eaten by fish, turtles and various arthropods. And caviar is an object of food for wasps, cat-eyed snakes, fly larvae, monkeys and other living organisms. In addition, caviar dies from exposure to a fungal infection.

Red-eyed tree frogs, like other frogs, are carnivores. They feed on a variety of beetles, mosquitoes, flies, spiders, lepidoptera, frogs and small lizards, meaning they will eat any prey that fits in their mouths.

Red-eyed tree frogs are able to swim, they have a good sense of touch and have parabolic vision. At night, the tree frog wakes up, stretches and yawns.

Although red-eyed tree frogs have a frightening bright coloration, they are not poisonous, but their skin contains a large number of different peptides: caerulein, tachykinin and bradykinin.

In fact, red-eyed tree frogs are non-poisonous frogs.

Reproduction of red-eyed tree frogs

In the wet season, with the arrival of rains, tree frogs start breeding. The peak of activity falls on May-November. Mature males have resonator sacs, thanks to which they can make loud sounds.

Listen to the voice of the red-eyed tree frog

Competing with each other, males sing, thereby attracting a female. On dry nights they make sounds from the plants, and on rainy nights they sing on the ground, sitting at the base of the bushes.

When a female approaches a male whose song attracted her, several males pounce on her at the same time. Then the female, with one male sitting on her back, descends into the water, and stays in the water for about 10 minutes, absorbing water through the skin. One female lays 30-50 eggs. The eggs are green, 3.7 millimeters in diameter, and by the time the larvae emerge, they increase in diameter to 5.2 millimeters. Outside, the eggs are covered with an elastic gelatinous membrane that performs a protective function, since thanks to it the eggs become inconspicuous.

When the eggs are laid, the female returns to the water, where she restores the water balance. In one season, the female manages to mate with several partners and make about 5 clutches.

The incubation process takes 6-10 days. If the tadpoles are in danger, for example, a wasp attacked the clutch, or the pond is flooded, then they come out several days ahead of schedule. Most often, tadpoles from one clutch hatch at the same time, and the liquid released from the eggs washes them all into the water.

The red-eyed tree frog is an unusual amphibian of rich light green color with a bright expressive look. The tree frog is nocturnal. It lives in forests in the leaves of trees, but can swim.

Habitat

This representative of the tailless order comes from Central America and warm regions of Mexico.

Prefers damp tropics located in the lowlands, although it is found in the low foothills.

Appearance

It has a very modest size, the length of the calf is from six centimeters to eight. The head is rounded. A distinctive feature is large red eyes with vertical pupils.

Leathery upper eyelids and almost transparent lower eyelids are necessary for protection: while resting, it observes what is happening around through the membranes. With a possible attack in a tree frog, the skin folds descend, bright red eyes scare predator, this gives the opportunity to escape. Active in the dark.

The tree frog has a frightening coloration, but it is not poisonous. The skin is smooth. Has a good sense of touch. The size and coloring depend on temperature, illumination and other parameters. The body can be either light green or dark. The sides of the tree frog are deep blue, the stripes on them are:

purple
brown
yellow

They are directed vertically or diagonally, the number of stripes is not the same in different populations (from 9 to 5-6). The belly is pure white or light cream. Her shoulders and hips are blue or orange. Bright orange fingers (and pads too) vary to light yellow.

The paws are equipped with suction cups, because of this, it climbs more than it is in ponds. There may be faint whitish spots or dark green lines on the back. Tree frogs change color from greenish (during the day) to brownish red (at dusk).

Lifestyle

The tree frog constantly stays in the trees, sleeps and feeds there. Likes heat (above 20 degrees).

The green frog wakes up at sunset, yawning and stretching, then stays awake. Moves by leaps for an impressive distance. In the heat it hides in the foliage.

Nutrition

Amphibian - is a carnivore, its diet consists of small insects that fit in the mouth (, spiders, flies, etc.).

Enemies

The main danger for tree frogs is snakes (parrot, cat-eyed, etc.), as well as lizards, birds, bats and small mammals. Eggs are eaten by reptiles, etc.

They suffer from fungal infections. Fish, arachnids, and arthropods can destroy tadpole fry.

reproduction

During the rainy period of the tree frog, the most suitable weather for the appearance of offspring. Intensive mating occurs in June and October evenings. Males make different sounds: frightening - for competitors and inviting - for future partners. Due to the resonator bags, the sound is loud.

The frog begins to croak intensively before sunset, while the sound intensifies with increasing humidity. Female tree frogs spawn on branches hanging above the water surface, 35-45 eggs. They are protected by a gelatinous shell, which makes the eggs inconspicuous. By the time of hatching, each increases one and a half times. The incubation period for the tree green frog is one week.

The tadpoles of the red-eyed frog appear at the same time, and they are washed into the pond. The fry grow up to 40 millimeters. After 2 and a half months, they turn into frogs. one of the largest inhabitants of the water element.

Tree frogs, also known as tree frogs, are the most colorful members of the amphibian order, ranging in color from yellow and green to red and blue mixed with black. Such a bright range is not just a freak of nature, it is a signal for predators, warning of danger. By releasing a poisonous toxin that can paralyze, stun and kill even a large animal, tree frogs have firmly established themselves in the impenetrable tropical forests of Central and South America, where high humidity and a huge biodiversity of insects allow them to survive for more than 200 million years. Appearing on Earth at the same time as dinosaurs, frogs demonstrate an extraordinary adaptation to the environment - painted in all the colors of the rainbow, they are almost invisible among the lush vegetation and inedible for most representatives of the fauna.

- Amerindians, have long learned to benefit from poison dart frogs, using it as a deadly substance to lubricate the tips of their hunting darts. Having pierced the frog with a stick, the Indians first held it over the fire, and then collected the droplets of poison that appeared on the skin of the animal into a container, after which they dipped the arrows in a viscous liquid. This is where another name for poisonous tree frogs came from - dart frogs.

Unusual facts from the life of poisonous poison dart frogs

Among the 175 brightly colored tree frog species, only three pose a threat to humans, the rest imitate toxicity with their appearance, although they are not poisonous.
The size of dangerous tree frogs reaches 2-5 cm, and females are larger than males.
Tree frogs climb trees thanks to rounded ends on their legs, resembling suction cups. Making circular movements with their limbs, they easily move along the sheer plane of the tree trunk.
Poison poison dart frogs prefer to live alone, carefully guarding the boundaries of their territory, and converge only during the mating season after reaching 2 years of age.
Tree frogs acquire their bright color with age, frogs always have a nondescript brown color.
The frog's body does not produce poison - it adsorbs the toxins of small insects. Poisonous secretions appear on the skin of an amphibian at the moment of danger and are due to a specific "diet", which includes ants, flies, and beetles. Tree frogs, raised in captivity, far from their natural habitat and deprived of their usual food, are absolutely harmless.
Dart frogs are both diurnal and nocturnal, climb the ground and trees, and use a long sticky tongue when hunting.
The life cycle of tree frogs is 5-7 years, in captivity - 10-15 years.

Yellow poison dart frog

Inhabiting the Andean foothills - in the coastal zones of southwestern Colombia, the most poisonous frog in the world - a terrible leaf climber ( Phyllobates terribilis ) , prefers growing on rocks 300-600 m above sea level. The leafy litter under the crowns of trees near the reservoir is a favorite place for the most dangerous vertebrate animal in the world - yellow-gold tree frogs, whose poison can kill 10 people at a time.

The distribution zone of the strawberry-colored tree frog (Andinobates geminisae), 1.5 cm in size, from the family of poisonous leaf climbers, first found in 2011, is the jungle of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. The red-orange palette of the body of an unusual amphibian is adjacent to the bright blue on the hind legs and black marks on the head. After the terrible golden leaf climber, the red tree frog ranks second in the world in terms of toxicity.

Okopipee blue poison frog

In 1968, the sky blue tree frog Dendrobatus azureus was first discovered by scientists in humid tropical areas. A bright shade of cobalt or azure sapphire with black and white splashes is the classic coloring of Okopipi. The poisonous tree frog got its name from local natives a long time ago - unlike scientists, it has been familiar to the Amerindians for many centuries. The distribution area of \u200b\u200ba unusual vertebrate is the relict rainforests surrounding the Sipaliwini savanna, stretching through the southern regions of Suriname and Brazil. According to scientists, the blue dart frog was, as it were, “mothballed” in this area during the last Ice Age, when part of the jungle turned into a grassy plain. It is surprising that Okopipi cannot swim like all amphibians, and she gets the necessary moisture in the wet thickets of the rainforest.

The area of distribution of the red-eyed tree frog - Agalychnis callidryas, is quite extensive: from Northern Colombia, through the entire central part of America, to the southern tip of Mexico. This species of amphibians lives mainly in the lowlands of Costa Rica and Panama. The coloring of the “big-eyed” poison dart frog is the most intense in the family of tailless vertebrates - neon spots of blue and orange are scattered on a bright green background. But the eyes of this amphibian are especially noteworthy - scarlet, with a vertical narrow pupil, they help a harmless little frog scare off predators.

In the east of the continent, there is another species of red-eyed frog - Litoria chloris - the owner of a rich light green color with yellow patches. Both types of tree frogs are not poisonous despite their expressive “outfit” and piercing eyes.

Interesting to know! Many animals have showy coloration, a warning color evolved to protect against predators and indicate the toxicity of its owner. As a rule, this is a combination of contrasting colors: black and yellow, red and blue or others, a striped or teardrop-shaped pattern - even those predators who are naturally color blind can distinguish such colors. In addition to the catchy color scheme, miniature animals have large eyes that are incommensurable with the dimensions of the body, which in the dark creates the illusion of a large organism. This survival trait is called aposematism.

Medical uses of tree frog venom

Research scientists on the pharmacological use of frog toxins began in 1974 - then at the US National Institutes of Health, experiments were first conducted with Dendrobatid (Dendrobatid) and Epidatidine (Epidatidine), the main components of tree frog venom. It turned out that in its analgesic properties, one substance is 200 times greater than morphine, and the other is 120 times greater than nicotine. In the mid-90s, a scientist at Abbott Labs. managed to create a synthetic version of epidatidin - ABT-594, which significantly reduces pain, but does not lull like opiates. The American Museum of Natural History team also analyzed 300 alkaloids found in tree frog venom and determined that some of them are effective for neuralgia and muscle dysfunction.

The largest frog in the world is the goliath (Conraua goliath) from West Africa, its body length (excluding legs) is about 32-38 cm, weight is almost 3.5 kg. The giant amphibian lives in Cameroon and Guinea, on the sandy banks of the African rivers Sanaga and Benito.
The smallest frog in the world is a tree toad from Cuba, it grows 1.3 cm in length.
In total, there are about 6 thousand species of frogs in the world, but every year scientists find more and more new species.
A toad is the same frog, only its skin is dry, unlike frogs, and covered with warts, and its hind legs are shorter.
The frog sees perfectly at night and is sensitive to even the slightest movement, in addition, the location and shape of the eyes allows it to perfectly survey the area not only in front and on the sides of itself, but also partially behind.
Thanks to their long hind legs, frogs can jump up to 20 times their body length. The Costa Rican tree frog has webbed toes between its hind and fore feet, a peculiar aerodynamic device that helps it float in the air as it jumps from one branch to another.
Like all amphibians, frogs are cold-blooded - their body temperature changes in direct proportion to environmental parameters. When the air temperature drops to a critical level, they burrow underground and remain in suspended animation until spring. Even if 65% of the tree frog's body is frozen, it will survive by increasing the concentration of glucose in vital organs. Another example of survivability is demonstrated by the Australian desert frog - it can survive without water for about 7 years.

New types of frogs and toads found in the world

Recently, a new species of golden tree frog has been discovered in the highlands of western Panama. Scientists were able to spot the amphibian in the dense foliage because of an unusual loud croak, unlike any previously studied. When zoologists caught the animal, a yellow coloring pigment began to appear on its paws. There was a fear that the secretions were poisonous, but after a series of tests, it turned out that the bright yellow mucus did not contain any toxins. A strange feature of the frog helped the scientific team come up with a scientific name for it - Diasporus citrinobapheus, which conveys the essence of its behavior in Latin. Another new species of poisonous frogs, Andinobates geminisae, was found by scientists in Panama (Doroso, Colon Province), in the upper reaches of the Rio Canyo River. According to experts, the neon-orange frog is on the verge of extinction, since its habitat is extremely small.

On the island of Sulawesi near the Philippine archipelago, a scientific team discovered the existence of a large number of clawed frogs - 13 species, and 9 of them were hitherto unknown to science. Differences are observed in the body size of amphibians, the size and number of spurs on the hind legs. Due to the fact that this species is the only one on the island, nothing prevents it from breeding and multiplying, unlike its relatives in the Philippines, where spur frogs compete with another species - amphibians of the Platymantis family. The rapid growth in the number of island anurans clearly demonstrates the correctness of the concept of adaptive distribution of Charles Darwin, described on the example of finches from the Galapagos archipelago.

Biodiversity of frogs on Earth

Vietnam. About 150 species of amphibian animals are distributed here; in 2003, 8 new species of frogs were found on the territory of the country.
Venezuela. The exotic state is sometimes called the "lost world" - many mesas that are difficult for researchers to reach are distinguished by endemic flora and fauna. In 1995, a group of scientists undertook a helicopter expedition to the Sierra Yavi, Guanay and Yutaye mountains, where 3 species of frogs unknown to science were found.
Tanzania. A new species of tree frog, Leptopelis barbouri, has been discovered in the Ujungwa Mountains.
Papua New Guinea. Over the past decade, 50 unstudied species of anurans have been found here.
Northeastern regions of the USA. Habitat of a rare spider-like toad.
Madagascar. The island is home to 200 species of frogs, of which 99% are endemic - unique species that are not found anywhere else. The latest discovery of scientists - narrow-mouthed toad, was discovered through a study of the soil and leafy cover of the jungle, during which it was possible to identify amphibian excrement.
Colombia. The most outstanding discovery of scientists in this region is the species of tree frog Colostethus atopoglossus, which lives only on the eastern slopes of the Andes, in El Boquerón.

Argentina, Bolivia, Guyana, Tanzania and many other countries with tropical climates and rugged landscapes are regions where scientists are constantly finding new subspecies of animals, including tailless amphibians - frogs. Owners of miniature sizes, arboreal representatives of the amphibian order are not only the smallest, but also the most dangerous animals in the world - modern zoologists are becoming more and more convinced of this.

In contact with

tree frog or tree frog (wood tree)- This is a frog that belongs to the type of chordates, the class of amphibians (amphibians), the tailless order, the tree frog family (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. The Russian concept of "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 frog family includes a huge number of species, the appearance of these amphibians is very diverse. Some tree frogs are characterized by a flattened body structure with paws that look like knotted twigs, other tree frogs have an outward resemblance to small frogs, and in others, the body is flabby, as if slightly blurred. However, a characteristic feature inherent in almost all species is the presence of peculiar suction discs on the fingertips, 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 a special organ called a throat pouch, which, when inflated, makes sounds.

Where does the tree frog (tree frog) live?

The distribution area of tree frogs captures the temperate zone of Europe, which includes Poland, the Netherlands, Norway and Lithuania, Belarus and Romania, the central part of Russia and Moldova, as well as Ukraine. Numerous tree frog species 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:

Clicking tree frog ( Acris crepitans)

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 Frog (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.

Piebald tree frog ( Dendropsophus leucophyllatus)

lives in the tropical rainforests of South America, which are part of 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.

Hyla arborea)

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.

Shepherd tree frog ( Hyla cinerea)

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 a grassy green color and is separated from the beige abdomen 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.

barking tree frog ( Hyla gratiosa)

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.

Hyla versicolor)

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 ambient temperature, humidity and season, the color of the changeable tree frog can vary greatly. The average life expectancy of changeable tree frogs does not exceed 6 years.

osteopilus septentrionalis )

it 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 (Pelodryadinae):

coral-fingered litoria or Australian white tree frogLitoria 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 painted pinkish or white. 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:

Agalychnis callidryas)

lives in the upper tiers of lowland and foothill tropical rainforests of 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. A characteristic feature of the red-eyed tree frog is red eyes with a vertical pupil. Despite their bright coloration, 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" are 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. 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.