cld10081720, originally uploaded by cclborneo.
It may have a big name - Microhyla nepenthicola, but this newly discovered frog species is actually the smallest amphibian ever recorded in Asia, ranging in size from only 10.6 to 12.8 millimetres! It is entirely dependent on the pitcher plant Nepenthes ampullaria wherein its tadpoles develop and has been named after it.
Photo © Brian Gratwicke - CC License
Large red eyes popping out of tiny neon green body! This rainforest animal looks more like a character from a Disney movie or an amphibian super hero then a mere frog. The Red-Eyed Tree Frogs have developed iconic status among rainforest animals because of their look. However, contrary to popular belief, the Red-eyed tree frogs are not poisonous. There unique coloring is attributed to defense strategy. Such color coded defense is quite common among rainforest animals.
The Red-eyed tree frogs are predominantly found in southern Mexico, Central America, northern South America. They grow somewhere between 1.5 and 2.75 inches and have a life span of 5 years. These frogs are nocturnal carnivores. Despite their coloring they hide among leaves and catch smaller preys like insects with their sticky tongues. During day times, these rainforest animals sleep while being stuck to the bottom of large leafs, which entirely camouflages them. These rainforest animals diet mainly costs of anything that it can fit into its mouth, which can be another frog.
Even though these frogs prefer to live near water bodies, their feet are actually well equipped with suckers to climb trees and help them stick to leafs upside down! Their lime green body also helps them merge into the surroundings while stuck in such a way. Even though their body has bright coloring, the tree frogs do not show these colorings when hunting or sleeping. The bright red eyes of the tree frogs the result of an extra membrane which shields the frogs eyes from damage.
If attacked these frogs flash open their red bulging eyes, stick out their bright orange webbed feet and inflate their bright blue and yellow sides - a rather colorful display from their camouflaged look. This display generally startles the predators long enough to allow the tree frogs to run for it. Scientists call this kind of defense the "startle coloration".
The red eyed tree frogs generally breed during the rainy seasons i.e. during the months of October through March. Similar to the mating ritual of other frogs, theirs constitute of lots of croaking by the male) a full our bar brawl which often culminates in the strongest standing left on the branch. Sometimes this wrestling match is conducted while hanging off the females back while the female is actually stuck to the underside of a leaf. Sometimes the female actually has to hold up the weight of several frogs clinging from its back at the same time. As often the case the seeming winner of round one may not survive till the eggs are laid or the tadpoles are hatched.
Even though this rainforest animal is not on the endangered list, the fast decline in its habitat is a concerning.
Visit rainforestanimals.info for more information on rainforest animals.
© Mark A Murphy http://www.rainforestanimals.info
Article Source: Rainforest Animals - Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis Callidryas)
One of the hottest frog stories buzzing on the Internet these days must surely be the sensational story of the discovery of a lost world inside the crater of Mount Bosavi, an extinct volcano on Papua New Guinea, in which scientists have found some 40 previously undiscovered species. As well as a headline-grabbing giant rat - we're talking BIG here, think the size of a cat - there is also a frog with fangs and a further fifteen other new frog species!
All promises to be revealed in Lost Land Of The Volcano on BBC1 at 9 o’clock tonight.
Anybody visiting Frog Tees is undoubtedly a big fan of frogs...but just how far would you be prepared to go to REALLY show you care?!
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Interesting recording of the song of the Eastern Gray Tree Frog and cricket frogs in a drainage ditch at Riverbend Forest Preserve, Champaign County, Illinois, USA.
The additional sounds in the background are made by crickets, geese on the lake, a bird in the woods and American toads in the distance...
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There's an interesting and timely piece of frog news on the BBC News Website today warning would-be frog conservationists about the dangers of a decades old do-it-yourself method of rehousing frogs by moving frogspawn from pond to pond...
Conservationists are urging people not to carry out "frogspawn-swapping" this spring because of problems they say it can create for the pond environment.
Wildlife-lovers in the UK often donate frogspawn from their ponds to others to give frogs a potential new home.
But the Froglife charity said this could lead to the spread of invasive plants and harmful diseases.
Source: BBC News
Thirteen rare finger nail-sized frogs have been born for the first time on one of New Zealand's main islands.
The Maud Island frogs were found in the frog enclosure at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington and have been taken to Victoria University.
When they have grown they will be released into the wild.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
Check out the stunning gallery at La Repubblica
There was some amazing footage on the Science and Nature pages of BBC News yesterday showing the rare Panamanian golden frog waving, wrestling and courting for the first time. In fact, shortly after recording the footage for the BBC One series Life In Cold Blood (which is presented by Sir David Attenborough), the frogs had to be rescued from the wild, due to the threat of chytrid fungus - the whole species is now extinct in Panama and this recording shows their unusual behaviour for both the first and last time in their natural habitat.
Meet La Raganella or Hyla Arborea... better known as the Italian tree frog!
I came home one evening to my little house in Le Marche, Italy, to find this Italian tree frog on my front door handle.
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