Common tree frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common tree frog |
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| Common tree frog (female) | |
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| Adult at Darmaga (Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia) | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Polypedates
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| Species: |
leucomystax
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| Synonyms | |
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The Common Tree Frog (scientific name: Polypedates leucomystax) is a type of frog that belongs to the shrub frog family, called Rhacophoridae. It has many different common names, like the four-lined tree frog, golden tree frog, or striped tree frog. Sometimes, people also call it the "white-lipped tree frog."
Scientists used to think this frog was the same as the common Indian tree frog. But today, they are usually seen as two separate species. The Common Tree Frog is not considered an threatened species by the IUCN. In fact, it's a "species complex," which means it's actually a group of very similar frogs that look alike but are different types.
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Where Common Tree Frogs Live
Common Tree Frogs are found in many parts of Asia. They live below the Kra Isthmus and west of the Tenasserim Hills. These are natural barriers that separate them from other similar frog species.
This frog species started to spread quickly after the Pleistocene era. This was partly because of human activities. For example, the Common Tree Frog's home range has grown in the Philippines and Indonesia. This happened because forests were changed into farms. These frogs are also often moved to new islands when farm products are shipped.
In Indonesia, you can find them across many islands. These include Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Bali, and Timor. They have also been brought to Papua. In Japan, where they were also introduced, they live on islands like Okinawa and Miyako.
Scientists have found four main groups of Common Tree Frogs. These groups are found in different areas:
- The southern Sundaland region: This includes Java and Sumatra.
- The northern Sundaland region: This covers Peninsular Malaysia, northern Borneo, and the southern Philippines.
- Sulawesi: Different types of these frogs are found on each of the four "prongs" or peninsulas of Sulawesi Island.
- The northern Philippines: This group also includes a type found in Lombok.
Other types of these frogs have also been found in southern China and Vietnam.
Where They Like to Live
Common Tree Frogs can live in many different places. Their natural homes include warm, dry forests and moist lowland forests. They also live in moist montane forests (forests on mountains) and moist shrubland.
You can often find them near rivers and lakes. They also live in marshes and near springs. These frogs are very adaptable. They can live in places changed by humans, like farms, gardens, and even urban areas. They are also found in ponds and areas used for storing water.
What They Look Like
Male Common Tree Frogs are about 3.7 to 5.0 centimeters (1.5 to 2.0 inches) long. Females are larger, growing to about 5.7 to 7.5 centimeters (2.2 to 3.0 inches) long. Their bodies are quite slender and slightly flat. They have a sharply pointed tail.
The skin on their back is smooth. Their body color can change a lot. They can be gray, green, yellow, reddish, or dark brown. Often, they have irregular patterns or four stripes along their back. The tip of their snout sometimes has a clear white spot. Their eyes are on the sides of their head. Their back feet have webbing, and their feet have large, clear pads, which help them climb.
How They Live and Grow
In wet areas, these frogs are active all year. In drier places, they usually appear at the start of the rainy season. Mating happens near shallow pools of water. The male frogs arrive first and make a loud, duck-like sound to call the females.
The female frog lays between 100 and 400 eggs. She places them in a special foam nest. This nest is attached to plants or other things above the water. The eggs are about 1.99 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. The eggs hatch after 3 to 4 days. The tiny tadpoles develop inside the foam nest. Then, they fall into the water below. They grow into adult frogs in about 7 weeks.
Keeping Them as Pets
Common Tree Frogs are often kept as pets. Both hobbyists and professionals keep them in special enclosures called vivariums or terrariums.
