Splendid Leaf Frog
by Dante Fenolio
Title
Splendid Leaf Frog
Artist
Dante Fenolio
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
The Splendid Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla calcarifer) is a canopy dwelling species from Central America. These frogs breed in water-filled tree holes in the canopy down to water-filled buttress tree root pools near the forest floor. The edges of the arms and legs have skin fringes that extend outward from the body. These pieces of skin help break up the noticeable outline of the frog when at rest with its arms and legs tucked in close to its body. The skin pattern on the backs of these frogs looks like a lichen or moss pattern. Collectively, these features make the frog look like a leaf surface when sleeping. Presumably, visually oriented predators of the frogs, like monkeys, have a harder time finding them. This frog was photographed in 2008 in the Atlanta Botanical Garden's amphibian conservation laboratory.
Uploaded
June 12th, 2013
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