Cuban Tree Frog – Osteopilus
septentrionalis; (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little
Cayman) |
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This Cuban Tree Frog is silver with water as his
skin absorbs the first rain after a long drought. |
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Photo by: Denise Bodden |
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Cuban Tree Frog on Little Cayman |
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Photo by: Pedrin
Lopez |
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| Cuban Tree Frogs (Osteopilus
septentrionalis) mating on Cayman Brac after heavy
rains on June 17, 2008. Though it is seen in a
wide variety of colors to match it's environment
- (brown, tan, white, green, gray and even orange),
this bright yellow color is notable though reportedly
not uncommon in some populations. It has been seen
on both males and females in Florida. |
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"All the
frogs leaped out as I approached this small, seasonal
pond except for these two! ... a good percentage
of the leapers seemed to be yellow. Some were small
and some quite big. Maybe the yellow is a specialization
developed here where it's so dry for so very, very
many days and months of the year. These males have
a very short time to find a partner!" Wallace
Platts
Photo by: Wallace Platts |
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Size: up to 5.5 inches SVL* – This is one of
the largest tree frogs in the world and females are significantly
bigger than males. This tree frog has large toe pads
and granular skin that is extremely variable in colour
and pattern consisting of varying shades of green, gray
and brown. Vocalization is a raspy, low croak. Eggs are
laid in water. Habitat is fresh water ponds for breeding,
however, this frog is frequently found resting above
ground in tree cavities and often on tree trunks and
the undersides of leaves and under eaves on the sides
of buildings, especially where some moisture is available
such as near cisterns. Also called “bullfrogs,” they
are active at night. They have some tolerance for brackish
water, shows less endemicism and appears to have crossed
saltwater barriers more easily than some other species.
It feeds entirely on insects. |
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| * Key: |
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| SVL |
Snout to Vent Length |
| TL |
Total Length (including tail) |
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