The Tree Frog Article

 TREE FROG ESSAY  

Appearance

Tree frogs last bone in their toes is clawed-shaped. Tree frogs have toe pads with mini suction cups and extraskeletal structures on their toes which helps them climb trees. Tree frogs come in many colors, such as brown, green, and grey. They can also come in black and yellow but it is rare. Due to the habitat of where the frog lives, mostly in leaves and small branches they are small in size. The largest species of tree frog are the white-lipped tree frog that are found in Australia. They are about 5.5 inches. The smallest species of tree frog are barely an inch. Red-eyed tree frogs are good to keep away predators because when predators see their red eyes they change their minds and go hunt for a larger animal. American green tree frogs are bright green, which allows them to camouflage in the wild. Scientists have used extracts from white tree frogs' skin for medicines to help fight diseases such as staphylococcus bacteria, lower blood pressure, and treat cold sores caused by the herpes virus. Female tree frogs are slightly larger than males.

Diet

Like many other amphibians, tree frog are carnivorous. They will eat insects such as crickets and flies, spiders, moths, and other invertebrates. Cuban tree frogs will eat other frogs that are smaller than themselves. They can also eat lizards, snakes, and small mammals. Tree frogs attack by using their long sticky tongue. The American green tree frog will eat mosquitos and flies. Grey tree frogs are found in Missouri and eat ants, beetles, flies, moths, and grasshoppers. Tadpoles aren't carnivorous so they will eat algae and other aquatic plants. As they grow into adult frogs they start eating meat. 

Habitat

Tree frogs live on every continent besides Antarctica. They mostly live in Central and South America. You can find over 600 species of tree frog in Central and South America. About 30 species live in warmer regions in the U.S. like in Florida. More than half of the species have long legs and toe pads (suction cups) to help them climb the tree where they live. The rest live in lakes and ponds. Red-eyed frog live mostly in Mexico, Central America, and into the north of South America. Tree frogs are nocturnal. Whtie tree frogs live in Australia and New Guinea. White tree frogs prefer wet forests and don't live near lakes or ponds. 

Reproduction

More than half of the tree frogs species mate by barking. Each frog has a different call. It is rare that eggs hatch and become mini-adults. It is common that the eggs will become tadpoles. Females lay her eggs on floating leaves above the water so when they hatch they go straight into the water. White tree frogs begin to reproduce in their second year. Females fast for many days before mating. The clutch size is different for different species of tree frogs. They can lay around 150 to 1,000 eggs at a time! Eggs hatch after about 24 to 36 hours. The lifespan of a frog is 3-4 years. Grey tree frogs can live up to five years in the wild. Australian tree frogs and white tree frogs can live up to 15 to 21 years in captivity.

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The Informative Zoologist