Page 22 - Amphibian

Hide and seek
Two green tree frogs

Amphibians are masters of “camouflage” – the art
of self-concealment. They have exceptional ability to
HIDING IN TREES use their skin colors and markings (pp. 14–15) to
For many species of tree
frogs (pp. 50–53), being hide or blend in with their natural surroundings.
just the right shade of This ability helps amphibians to avoid being seen,
green is camouflage
enough. Light stripes on either by potential prey or by predators. Some
their sides or yellow species have skin flaps or fringes along the edges of
spots can look like
sunlight on a leaf. their bodies; these help to make the body’s outline
look like a natural object in the environment, and
make it even more difficult for predators to spot
UNUSUAL
STRATEGY them. Some amphibians can remain motionless for
This tree frog from extended periods of time, which
Brazil has a very
unusual form of better enables them to “melt”
camouflage – it looks
like a splash of bird into the background.
droppings on a stone.
BREAKING UP
Many amphibians
have a light line down
their back or sides,
breaking up the easily
recognizable body
shape. In some
species, like this
Gray’s stream frog,
the stripe may be
quite wide.
PATTERN PERCEPTION
LEAF MIMIC Finding a panther toad
This Asian horned toad provides one of against any similarly
the finest examples of the art of colored background is
camouflage in amphibians. The body is very difficult. When the
flat and its color matches the dried match is this good (right),
leaves and leaf litter on the forest floor. and the toad remains
Skin flaps, or “horns,” projecting over its perfectly still,
eyes and on the tip of its snout look like it is almost
leaves, and the narrow skin ridges and impossible
glandular folds resemble leaf ribs. to see.

Asian
horned
toad on
leaves

Panther toad on bark

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