Page 55 - Amphibian
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BONE HEAD Bony eyebrow protects eye (smaller
The skin on the heads of these two than in most tree frogs)
unusual tree frogs from Belize in
Central America is fused to the bony,
boxlike skull; this may help to
reduce water loss (pp. 12–13).
The tree frog protects itself from
predators by backing into a
hole in a tree trunk and
using its head to block
the entrance.
Large, sticky, rounded
disk on end of finger
for gripping bark
FROM A SAFE PLACE
1Against a leafy
background this red-eyed tree frog would
be well hidden. The green color of its
head, back, and legs, and the vertical
stripes on its sides make it look like
a leaf in dappled
sunlight.
DANGER AHEAD
2Jumping in trees is dangerous. A
tree frog could easily hit (or miss) a branch,
injure itself, or become tangled up in leaves
and stems. Any movement is dangerous
because it might also attract predators.
RED ALERT
This red-eyed tree frog from Central America is
sitting in a typically alert tree frog posture. Tree
frogs peer over the edges of leaves and branches
to look out for both prey and predators, while
hiding as much of them-
selves as possible
(pp. 22–23). Tree frog’s
eye typically
facing forward Flash color of bright
FULLY STRETCHED orange (but it can also
3The bright orange be red, blue, or yellow)
color on the thighs and
other usually hidden
surfaces is an example of
“flash coloration.” A sudden
flash of color, combined with the
jumping tree frog’s unusual shape,
confuses its enemies. When tree frogs
land almost flat onto a leaf surface,
they make a very quiet “slap” sound.
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