A Tree Frog Can Breathe Through Its Skin

Members of the tree frog family have specialized toe pads at the tips of their toes, allowing them to cling to vertical surfaces like trees, shrubs, and even windows.

These toe tips contain a mucus-secreting gland and a disk-like structure that helps them stick to surfaces. Some have claw shaped bones at the end of their last bone in the front legs, further enhancing their grip.

The green tree frog is a common frog in the central to southeastern United States, often found near ponds with plentiful vegetation.

Males are usually smaller and use advertisement calls during breeding season to attract female frogs. Male green tree frogs are especially known for their loud, croaking calls.

The gray tree frog, also known as Hyla versicolor, can change color between gray, green, and brown, depending on its surroundings.

These frogs are nocturnal and are more active at night, using their strong legs and feet to navigate through trees and escape from predators like snakes, birds, and spiders.

During the breeding season, males call out loudly to potential mates. Once eggs are laid in shallow water, tadpoles hatch and begin their aquatic life. Tadpoles live in water for several weeks before developing lungs and losing their tail.

After metamorphosis, they become land-dwelling amphibians capable of climbing and breathing air.

Tree frogs are insectivores, eating insects such as moths, crickets, and other small arthropods.

Because of their small size, they must stay alert for predators and use camouflage and quick reflexes to survive. Their skin can be bright green, gray, or even bright yellow, depending on the species.

Whether you're hearing their croaks at night or spotting their blue, green, or gray forms clinging to a branch, tree frogs offer a vivid glimpse into the diversity and adaptability of the animal kingdom.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.