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There are over 5,000 known species of frogs around the world. Frogs are found on every continent, other than Antarctica. Do you mean there are no magical ice frogs? Yeah hard to believe right… but frogs are amphibians.
Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrates – this implies that they cannot regulate their body temperature but rely on the surrounding environment. To put it simply, when it gets too hot, they will seek places to cool down or if it is too cold they will find a sunny spot to warm up. Their bodies do not have coping mechanisms like ours, where we sweat or shiver to balance our internal temperature.
Frogs are only one type of amphibian – there are salamanders, axolotls, toads, newts, and caecilians. Each plays a role in their environment – doing their thing – being amphibians and whatnot.
But let’s hone in on one… one type of amphibian – one type of frog – the Lemur Leaf Frog.
Lemur Leaf Frogs stand out from the crowd of frogs. They are a combination of features that create one of the cutest amphibians if you ask me – I know you didn’t, but here is my opinion anyways.
They are small – like small, small. Reaching a whopping 1-2 inches (3-5 centimeters) in length. The females are more robust than the males. But other than size, and a small brown/black spot on their front legs, there isn’t much that visually differs between the two genders.
Let’s talk about those eyes! Their large, widespread eyes have vertical pupils which help them see in the dark. It might be hard to believe with all that 1-2 inches of might, but the Lemur Leaf Frogs are not at the top of the food chain. Having good eyesight – during the day and night – gives them an upper hand over anyone who might be looking for a snack.
Now, just take a moment, look at the photo below and try not to look at their eyes:
I know it is nearly impossible right?! They just draw you in like a bug to light.
Not literally of course. When you see those long, thin legs you might be like, I bet they are really good jumpers… but surprisingly they rarely jump. Instead, they will use their sticky non-webbed feet and long, thin legs to walk along branches to get where they are going. Now if there is a predator nearing in on their attack, that is a different story – you better believe the Lemur Leaf Frog is jumping out of that situation.
During the day, Lemur Leaf Frogs are a bright green color, almost a neon green, with dark flecks on their backside and a yellow and white underbelly. They are often found tucked onto the underside of leaves, blending right in with their surroundings so they can take a safe nap.
And at night, when they are most active, their bodies turn from that bright green and yellow color to a dark brown/ black color. Talk about good camouflaging! This is also known as, Metachrosis which is the ability to change color voluntarily by the expansion of special pigment cells.
Lemur leaf frogs are found in Costa Rica, Panama, and some areas of Colombia. They live in forests on sloping mountainsides and in the humid uplands and lowlands. Check out the map below 👇👇👇👇👇👇
“These frogs typically breed during the rainy season (April to July). Males call to females from plants near (or overhanging) pools and slow-moving streams. Males grasp females in the mating position, called amplexus, and females lay clutches of 15 to 20 eggs. They may lay two or three clutches per night, depositing the egg masses in a single or double layer. Eggs are deposited on the surface or underside of leaves that hang over the water. The ambient humidity keeps the eggs moist as they develop, and rain triggers the larvae to “wiggle” out of the eggs and falls into the water below. The larvae hatch seven to 14 days after fertilization, and the embryos are light green. Metamorphosis, the transformation from an immature to an adult form in stages, generally occurs 69 to 98 days after hatching. Lemur leaf frog tadpoles can also change color day to night but do not have the same yellow or orange side coloration as adults.” – Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
To all those frogs out there – you are SO important all around the world. 🌎 Frogs are direct mirrors – indicators of how an ecosystem is living, breathing, surviving, or thriving: balance – harmony – truth – and a dash of humor. What an incredible species to be! 🐸
You are the best! Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️