The Green Tree Frog |
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The green tree frog lives in wooded places near the water. They like cattails that grow in the water as a place to lay their eggs. The eggs hatch into tadpoles which grow into frogs. When they are grown, the frogs leave the water. But they return when it is time to find a mate and lay more eggs. After they lay their eggs, they hop away leaving the young to care for themselves.
Many of the young tadpoles will be eaten by insects that live in the water and fish. Snakes, lizards and birds are the frog’s greatest enemies.
Frogs are important because they eat large numbers of insects and serve as food for many fish, snakes, birds and mammals. They prefer to catch moving insects by flicking out their tongue and bringing it back into their mouth in less than a second. Their tongue is attached to the front of their mouth and folds back. The top of their tongue is sticky and catches the insects by reaching out and touching it.
The tree frog has little suction cups on the tip of each toe to help it climb trees. Among the leaves of the trees, its green color blends in well which helps to protect it from predators. These frogs use camouflage and also stay very still to protect themselves.
