The common tree frog, a member of the anuran order of the tree frog family, is a miniature frog with a body length of about 5.5 cm, long hind legs and a glossy skin surface. The tree frog is remarkable for its color variability skin. This change can happen literally before our eyes: it all depends on the color of the surrounding substrate and the emotional state.

The normal color of the frog is green, but it can take on all shades of white, gray and brownish-brown. The common tree frog (class of amphibians) is a peaceful and clean creature. This article will tell you about it, its habitat in nature and the peculiarities of keeping it at home.

Wild Lifestyle

The tree frog (another name for the tree frog) is found almost throughout European territory. Usually calm, it sits on stones, plants, tree trunks or leaves, and in the grass. You won’t immediately notice it in nature - the frog’s appearance resembles a tree leaf, and it also camouflages well with the surrounding surroundings. This is how she hunts, waiting for insects. The common tree frog is an active animal: it swims excellently and easily jumps onto plants. In nature, the activity of tree frogs increases with the onset of dusk; it is at this time that the real hunt begins. The darkness does not stop the frog from looking for prey - it has excellent vision. The vast majority of its diet consists of flying insects: mosquitoes, flies, butterflies. But she does not disdain catching small, mobile animals. Its weapon is not only its sticky tongue, but also its jaws, with which it can capture flightless prey. Is the common tree frog poisonous? No, this is a harmless species; the tree frog fairly captures prey without paralyzing it. Protecting the frog from external danger serves her ability to hide, merging with the surrounding world.

In summer, during the active season, tree frogs do not hide in cracks or burrows. They rest and hide from danger and bad weather in the foliage of bushes or grass. They wait out the winter underground, climbing into holes left by other animals, under stones, into rock crevices, tree hollows, and can go to the bottom of a reservoir for the winter.

Tree frog breeding

To breed, frogs need to choose a suitable place - a stagnant body of water, surrounded by banks with tall vegetation (trees, bushes, reeds). Males, sitting in the water or on bushes, attract females with rhythmic calls, thanks to the existing throat resonators. We have all heard the croaking of frogs. It is the developed resonators that nature has provided males with that allow them to produce very loud sounds. At the spawning reservoir, where all the district males gather, an impressive chorus is spontaneously organized, reaching its climax, as a rule, in evening hours. Females come to the breeding site only to lay eggs and leave, and males do not leave here throughout the spawning period, so they are always the majority in a reservoir and females can choose.

The female lays several portions (from 3 to 21) of eggs, which are attached to aquatic plants lump of various quantities eggs There can be from 15 to 215 pieces. Embryos develop within one to two weeks, transforming into larvae and growing for another 1.5-3 months. It happens that the larvae overwinter and grow into small frogs only next year. Baby frogs initially stay on the banks of their native reservoir, and then, by analogy with the behavior of adult individuals, they look for a place for wintering. Tree frogs become sexually mature at the age of 2-4 years. IN wildlife The common tree frog can live up to 12 years, and when kept in a terrarium - up to 20-22.

Problems: population decline

The common tree frog is a striking example of the rapid extinction of amphibians. Over the past 100 years, its range has been Russian borders decreased noticeably - in some central regions In the European part and within the Southern Urals, this species of frog has disappeared. The number of tree frogs is also declining in other European countries. The main cause of this disaster is industrial pollution. environment, or, as they say, biotopes of the species.

This may be why tree frogs have become a favorite item in home terrariums today. Let's talk about the rules for caring for these animals and necessary equipment to provide them with a comfortable life.

What to prepare: vertical terrarium

For tree frogs, a vertical type aquaterrarium is suitable, including a small pond, a section of shore and vegetation. Minimum dimensions terrariums for housing 1-2 animals are 20x20 cm at the base and 50 cm in height (excluding the height of the lamp). The container should be equipped with additional downward daytime heating using an incandescent lamp or a mirror lamp. The terrarium is not heated at night. The temperature during the day should be maintained at 23-26 ˚С, at night - 16-20 ˚С.

Inside, imitating the natural landscape:

Place small snags, branches, twigs on which the frog will rest.

Bromeliads, anubias, orchids, small ficuses, philodendrons, scindapsus, etc. are planted or installed in containers.

Set up a shallow (8-15 cm) pond with aquarium plants - echinodorus, cryptocorynes. The bottom is laid out with aquarium pebbles, and a large stone protruding from the water is installed near the shore. You can throw several ampullary snails into the pond, providing natural cleaning of the walls.

At the back or side wall of the terrarium, the bank is equipped with a substrate that is necessary for the plants placed. When using potted plants, the bank is lined with sphagnum.

The terrarium is sprayed daily warm water- moss should not dry out. Tree frogs can be kept singly or in groups.

Another type of terrarium

They also use a different setting in the terrarium - without land plants, but only with representatives of the aquarium flora floating in the water. Such an aquaterrarium should be large in volume: at the base - 30x30 cm, at the height - 40-50 cm. Water is filled to half, large stones with imitation grottoes are installed, and a large number of aquarium plants are placed. Experience shows that tree frogs thrive in such conditions.

Any terrarium needs to be equipped in such a way that it is easy to clean. Such events must be carried out at least once every 3-4 weeks.

What you need to know about behavioral patterns

The common frog, with its peaceful disposition, good appetite and calm behavior, quickly adapts to captivity. As a rule, it does not create problems for future owners, but one should take into account the fact that the male will periodically “sing”. It has been noticed that males like to “talk,” especially if they hear the sounds of music or conversation. Females are more silent: they can only speak in case of danger.

The predominantly nocturnal natural activity of frogs at home changes somewhat: tree frogs in terrariums are more active during the day and rest at night.

Color change in captivity

If the common tree frog changes its habitual green color skin, you should pay attention to this. Darkening is an indicator of some kind of irritation. Fading color indicates that the animals are cold and need to turn on the heating. Sessions are required ultraviolet irradiation(15 minutes every other day) to destroy pathogens.

Common tree frog: maintenance and feeding

In a terrarium, tree frogs are fed house/banana crickets, marble cockroaches, Zophobass, etc.

Tadpoles are generally carnivorous. They are also fed invertebrates (daphnia, bloodworms, cyclops). Juveniles are fed every day, adults - once every 2 days. Once a month, vitamins (in accordance with the instructions) and calcium supplements, crushed eggshells are added to the food.

Breeding

At the end of wintering, the male and female are placed in a terrarium together. The female lays several portions of eggs, which attach to aquatic plants. Tadpoles appear after 8-14 days and develop for another 1.5-3 months. They are recommended to be planted separately in specially prepared horizontal aquaterrariums with walkways for exiting the water after transformation. Before metamorphosis, the tadpole reaches 4.5-5 cm. The water temperature is maintained at 20-24 ° C, aeration is required using a compressor, as well as controlled filtration.

Rest period

The common tree frog is a reptile with a pronounced resting period. In winter, it must also be provided to “domestic” pets:

Over the course of 2 weeks, reduce heating until turned off;

The tree frog is placed in a breathable, but without light, cage filled with damp moss and placed in a cool place (15-17 ˚C) for 2-4 days;

The container is placed on the shelf of the refrigerator, where the temperature is maintained at 8-10 ° C for 2 months (do not forget to maintain humidity in the cage).

Exit from the winter quarters is carried out in the reverse order.

Tree frogs, also known as tree frogs, are the most colorful members of the amphibian order - their colors range from yellow and green to red and blue mixed with black. Such a bright range is not just a quirk of nature, it is a signal for predators, warning of danger. Producing a poisonous toxin that can paralyze, stun and kill even a large animal, tree frogs have firmly established themselves in the impenetrable tropical forests of Central and South America, Where high humidity and the enormous biodiversity of insects allows them to survive for more than 200 million years. Having appeared on Earth at the same time as dinosaurs, frogs demonstrate extraordinary adaptation to the environment - painted in all the colors of the rainbow, they are practically invisible among lush vegetation and inedible for most representatives of the fauna.

- the Amerinds, have long learned to benefit from the poison of poison dart frogs, using it as a deadly substance to lubricate the tips of their hunting darts. Having pierced the frog with a stick, the Indians first held it over the fire, and then collected the droplets of poison that appeared on the skin of the animal into a container, after which they dipped the arrows in a viscous liquid. This is where another name for poisonous tree frogs- dart frogs.

Unusual facts from the life of poison dart frogs

• Among the brightly colored 175 species of tree frogs, only three pose a threat to humans, the rest mimic toxicity with their appearance, although they are not poisonous.
• The size of dangerous tree frogs reaches 2-5 cm, with females being larger than males.
• Tree frogs climb trees thanks to the rounded ends on their legs that resemble suction cups. Making circular movements with their limbs, they move quite easily along the vertical plane of a tree trunk.
• Poison dart frogs prefer to live alone, carefully protecting the boundaries of their territory, and only come together during the mating season after reaching 2 years of age.
• Tree frogs acquire their bright colors with age; baby frogs always have a nondescript brown color.
• The frog's body does not produce poison - it adsorbs toxins from small insects. Toxic secretions appear on the skin of an amphibian at the moment of danger and are caused by a specific “diet”, which includes ants, flies, and beetles. Tree frogs raised in captivity, far from their natural habitat and deprived of their usual food, are absolutely harmless.
• Dart frogs are both diurnal and night image life, climb the ground and trees, and use a long sticky tongue when hunting.
• The life cycle of tree frogs is 5-7 years, in captivity – 10-15 years.

Yellow poison dart frog

Inhabited in the Andean foothills - in coastal areas southwestern Colombia, the most poisonous frog in the world - the terrible leaf climber ( Phyllobates terribilis ) , prefers growing on rocks 300-600 m above sea level. Deciduous litter under the crowns of trees near the reservoir - favorite place for the most dangerous vertebrate in the world - the yellow-gold tree frog, whose poison can kill 10 people at a time.

The distribution zone of the 1.5 cm strawberry tree frog (Andinobates geminisae), from the family of poisonous leaf climbers, first found in 2011, is the jungle of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. The red-orange palette of the body of an unusual amphibian is adjacent to the bright blue on hind legs and black marks on the head. After the dreaded golden leaf frog, the red tree frog is the second most toxic species in the world.

Okopipi blue poison frog

In 1968, the sky-blue tree frog Dendrobatus azureus was first discovered by scientists in the humid tropics. A bright shade of cobalt or azure sapphire with black and white flecks is a classic Okopipi colorway. Own name poisonous tree frog received from local aborigines a long time ago - unlike scientists, the Amerindians have known it for many centuries. The distribution area of ​​the unusual vertebrate is relict rainforests, surrounding the Sipaliwini savanna, extending across the southern regions of Suriname and Brazil. According to scientists, the blue dart frog was, as it were, “canned” in this area during the last Ice Age, when part of the jungle turned into a grassy plain. The surprising thing is that Okopipi does not know how to swim like all amphibians, and it gets the necessary moisture in the humid thickets of the tropical forest.

The distribution area of ​​the red-eyed tree frog - Agalychnis callidryas, is quite extensive: from Northern Colombia, across the entire central part America, to the southern tip of Mexico. This species of amphibian lives mainly in the lowlands of Costa Rica and Panama. The coloring of the “big-eyed” dart frog is the most intense in the family of tailless vertebrates - neon spots of blue and blue are scattered against a bright green background. orange color. But the eyes of this amphibian are especially remarkable - scarlet, with a vertical narrow pupil, they help the harmless little frog scare away predators.

In the east of the continent, there is another species of red-eyed frog - Litoria chloris - the owner of a rich light green color with yellow splashes. Both types of tree frogs are not poisonous despite their expressive “outfit” and piercing gaze.

Interesting to know! Many animals have striking colors - warning colors developed during evolution to protect against predators and indicating the toxicity of its owner. As a rule, this is a combination of contrasting colors: black and yellow, red and blue or others, a striped or drop-shaped pattern - even those predators that are naturally color-blind can distinguish such colors. In addition to their eye-catching colors, the miniature animals have big eyes, incommensurate with the dimensions of the body, which in the dark creates the illusion of a large organism. This feature, intended for survival, is called aposematism.

Medical uses of tree frog venom

Research by scientists regarding the pharmacological use of frog toxins began back in 1974 - then in National Institute US Health, experiments were first conducted with dendrobatid and Epidatidine, the main components of tree frog venom. It turned out that in its pain-relieving properties one substance is 200 times superior to morphine, and the other is 120 times superior to nicotine. In the mid-90s, scientists at Abbott Labs. managed to create a synthetic version of epidatidine - ABT-594, which significantly reduces pain, but does not put people to sleep like opiates. The American Natural History Museum team also analyzed 300 alkaloids found in tree frog venom and determined that some were effective in treating neuralgia and muscle dysfunction.

• The most big frog in the world - goliath (Conraua goliath) from West Africa, the length of her body (excluding legs) is about 32-38 cm, weight - almost 3.5 kg. The giant amphibian lives in Cameroon and Guinea, on the sandy banks of the African rivers Sanaga and Benito.
• The smallest frog in the world is the tree toad from Cuba, it grows 1.3 cm in length.
• In total, there are about 6 thousand species of frogs in the world, but every year scientists find more and more new species.
• A toad is the same as a frog, only its skin is dry, unlike frogs, and covered with warts, and its hind legs are shorter.
• The frog sees perfectly at night and is sensitive to even the slightest movement; in addition, the location and shape of the eyes allows it to perfectly view the area not only in front and to the sides of itself, but also partially behind.
• Thanks to their long hind legs, frogs can jump a distance of 20 times their body length. The Costa Rican tree frog has membranes between the toes of its hind and front paws - this unique aerodynamic device helps it float in the air when it jumps from one branch to another.
• Like all amphibians, frogs are cold-blooded - their body temperature changes in direct proportion to environmental parameters. When the air temperature drops to a critical level, they burrow underground and remain in suspended animation until spring. Even if 65% of a tree frog's body is frozen, it will survive by increasing the concentration of glucose in its vital fluid. important organs. Another example of vitality is demonstrated by the Australian desert frog - it can survive without water for about 7 years.

New species of frogs and toads found in the world

A new species of golden tree frog was recently discovered in the highlands of western Panama. Scientists were able to spot the amphibian in dense foliage due to an unusual loud croaking sound, unlike any previously studied. When zoologists caught the animal, a yellow pigment began to appear on its paws. There was a fear that the discharge was poisonous, but after a series of tests, it turned out that the bright yellow mucus did not contain any toxins. A strange feature of the frog helped the scientific team come up with scientific name- Diasporus citrinobapheus, which conveys the essence of her behavior in Latin. Another new look poisonous frogs— Andinobates geminisae, scientists found in Panama (Doroso, Colon province), in the upper reaches of the Rio Caño River. According to experts, the neon orange frog is on the verge of extinction, since its habitat is extremely small.

On the island of Sulawesi near the Philippine archipelago, scientific group discovered the existence large quantity clawed frogs - 13 species, and 9 of them were hitherto unknown to science. Differences are observed in the body size of amphibians, the size and number of spurs on the hind legs. Due to the fact that this species is the only one on the island, nothing prevents it from breeding and reproducing, unlike its relatives in the Philippines, where clawed tree frogs compete with another species - amphibians of the Platymantis family. The rapid increase in the number of island anurans clearly demonstrates the correctness of Charles Darwin's concept of adaptive distribution, described by the example of finches from the Galapagos archipelago.

Biodiversity of frogs on Earth

• Vietnam. About 150 species of amphibians are common here; in 2003, 8 new species of frogs were found in the country.
• Venezuela. An exotic state is sometimes called " lost world“—many table mountains, difficult to reach for researchers, are distinguished by endemic flora and fauna. In 1995, a group of scientists undertook a helicopter expedition to the Sierra Yavi, Guanay and Yutaye mountains, where 3 species of frogs unknown to science were found.
• Tanzania. Open in the Ujungwa Mountains new variety tree frogs - Leptopelis barbouri.
• Papua New Guinea. Behind last decade 50 unstudied species of tailless amphibians were discovered here.
• Northeastern regions of the USA. Habitat of the rare spider-like toad.
• Madagascar. The island is home to 200 species of frogs, 99% of which are endemic - unique species not found anywhere else. The scientists' latest find, the narrow-mouthed toad, was discovered through a study of the soil and foliage of the jungle, during which they were able to identify the amphibian's excrement.
• Colombia. The most outstanding discovery scientists in this region– a species of tree frog, Colostethus atopoglossus, found only on the eastern slopes of the Andes, in El Boquerón.

Argentina, Bolivia, Guyana, Tanzania and many more countries with tropical climate and rugged landscapes - these are regions where scientists are constantly finding new subspecies of animals, including tailless amphibians - frogs. Possessing miniature sizes, arboreal representatives of the amphibian order are not only the smallest, but also the most dangerous animals in the world - modern zoologists are increasingly convinced of this.

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Common tree frog, keeping at home

The common tree frog (Hyla arborea) or European tree frog is a small green tree frog measuring 3 to 5 cm in length. The common tree frog is more suitable for keeping in greenhouses and conservatories, since the frog jumps well and can hit glass in a terrarium, but keeping it in a terrarium is possible.

Description

The common tree frog is bright green, olive green, grey, yellow or brown in color and smooth. The underside of the frog is white/cream in color and has a grainy texture. From the nostrils down along the body to the thigh there is a dark stripe on each side of the frog.

The hind legs of the common tree frog are much larger than the front and stronger, which allows the frogs to jump quickly. Each of the frog's toes has adhesive discs that allow the tree frog to climb on surfaces. The common tree frog has horizontal eye pupils and a very characteristic croaking sound. On Greek Hyla means bark.

Habitat, behavior

Common tree frogs are found throughout Europe and Western Asia. Prefers overgrown areas near water, most lives are spent on land. During the day, common tree frogs usually sit on wide leaves, basking in the sun (they lose relatively little moisture due to the properties of their skin), and spend the night on the ground in search of insects, spiders and snails. In nature, it feeds mainly on insects, mainly flying ones, jumping after them.

From April to July, male tree frogs gather in ponds to sing at night, which can be heard a kilometer away. Females visit the pond only for one night.

IN winter months The common tree frog hibernates.

The common tree frog is somewhat similar in content to the shepherd tree frog, barking tree frog, and changeable tree frog, but the changeable tree frog prefers higher temperatures. It is very easy to keep the common tree frog at home; no need to optional equipment and heating.

It is best to keep the common tree frog outdoors, in well-ventilated greenhouses and greenhouses. They can also overwinter there if you provide them with a large container with moss and leaves.

The common tree frog is much less demanding and is cheaper and more profitable to keep than tropical tree frogs.

The common tree frog is a small frog, but very active and jumps long distances, so it requires a glass terrarium measuring at least 45 x 45 x 60 cm. If kept in a smaller terrarium, frogs can hit their snouts on the glass while jumping.

Place the terrarium in a cool place, hidden from direct sun rays. No additional heating is usually required. If a heating zone is created, it is done at a fairly low temperature.

Temperature: daytime 18-25ºC; night temperature 13-18ºC.

It is useful to use lamps with UV lighting in the terrarium; frogs will be able to relax under it as if under sunlight. But this is not necessary, ordinary tree frogs are nocturnal creatures; ordinary daylight 12 hours a day is enough for them.

The relative humidity in the terrarium should be 60-90%. There should be a shallow bowl of water in the terrarium (the common tree frog does not like to swim very much), and the soil should be sprayed daily.

In the terrarium you can use live plants, such as philodendron or epipremnum aureus, broad-leaved ferns, as well as smooth stones and tree branches (pre-boiled for disinfection).

Feeding

The common tree frog is usually fed with crickets, flies, fly larvae, and grasshoppers. Vitamin and mineral calcium supplements are offered once a week.

(Linnaeus, 1758)
(= Hyla viridis - Eichwald, 1830; Hyla arborea var. orientalis Bedriaga, 1890)

Appearance. Small tree frogs, maximum body length- 53 mm (in Europe up to 60 mm). Coloring very changeable, maybe change literally before our eyes, depending on the color of the substrate and the physiological state. The top is grassy green to dark grey, bluish or brown. Along the sides of the head and body there is a dark stripe with a white border on top, which forms a loop near the groin area. The bottom is white or yellowish. In males throat dark.

Hind tarsus of the common tree frog (1 - discs)

Spreading. A European species inhabiting the west and north of the Iberian Peninsula and almost the rest of Europe, except southern France, Italy, Great Britain and Scandinavia. On the territory of the former USSR northern border passes through the south of Lithuania, southern Belarus, to the southeast to the Kursk, Belgorod, Oryol and Tula (?) regions. Absent in the Rostov region and Volga-Kama region. In the south it is found in Moldova and Ukraine. Isolated areas of the range are located in the south of Crimea and the Caucasus.

The distribution of the species in Russia requires additional study.

Taxonomy of the species. The species apparently consists of 4 subspecies. 2 are represented on the territory of the former USSR and Russia. The European part of the range is occupied by the nominative subspecies, Hyla arborea arborea(Linnaeus, 1758). In the Caucasus, from the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories and Dagestan in the north to Georgia, northeastern Armenia and Azerbaijan in the south, it lives Shelkovnikov's tree frog, Hyla arborea schelkownikawi Cernov, 1926.

Habitat. Tree frogs are associated with the forest zone, although they can be found in forest-steppe and even steppe areas. They live in deciduous and mixed forests, shrubs, less often in meadows, at an altitude of up to 1250 m above sea level in the Carpathians and 2200 m in Azerbaijan. Most common in floodplain and lowland oak forests, alder forests, floodplain meadows rivers and lakes overgrown with bushes along the banks of reclamation ditches. They are found in vegetable gardens, orchards, parks, and vineyards. Avoid coniferous forests, scree and bare rocks, alpine meadows in the Carpathians. In the Caucasus they were found in the zone of subalpine meadows.

Activity. Activity is predominantly nocturnal. During the day, tree frogs sit huddled on the leaves of trees, shrubs or tall herbaceous plants (for example, rush grass) and, due to their protective coloring, are difficult to distinguish. Tree frogs not only climb trees well, including completely smooth vertical surfaces, but are also capable of making long jumps and swimming well. IN breeding season and later the calls of individual males can be heard during the day. Choirs of tree frogs are also sometimes heard on cloudy days.

Reproduction. Tree frogs in spring are awakening in late March - early April, in Moldova in the first ten days of April, in the Carpathians and Crimea in April-May, in the Caucasus in early March, at an air temperature of 8-12 ° C. Sometimes they have to overcome up to 750 m to get into the reservoir . The males that arrive first are concentrated along the edge of the reservoir.

For reproduction They use various well-heated reservoirs with standing water and vegetation. These can be small bodies of water in clearings or forest edges, puddles, swamps, reclamation ditches, shallow coastal parts of lakes. Tree frogs do not lay eggs in rivers and other flowing bodies of water. Intense night concerts, organized by males, can continue until the end of May.

Spawning occurs at a water temperature of 13°C. The female lays about 690-1870 eggs several portions in the form of small lumps (in Moldova there are 15-21 lumps of 21-56 eggs).

Masonry lie at the bottom of the reservoir or attached to plants. The spawning period is extended and lasts from the beginning of April to the end of July, in the Caucasus from the end of March to May. The diameter of the egg with shell is 3-4.5 mm, the egg is 1.0-1.6 mm.

Embryonic development lasts about 8-14 days. The size of the larvae after hatching is 8-9 mm. Larval development lasts 45-90 days. Before metamorphosis, tadpoles reach a length of 46-49 mm.

Appearance (a) and oral disc (b) of a common tree frog tadpole

Cases of overwintering larvae have been recorded in the Carpathians. Fingerlings 10-17 mm or more long come to land during the daytime in July - early September. Unlike adults, they are very active during the day and stay mainly on the grass near water bodies.

Sexual maturity occurs in the third year of life when the body length of males is 35 mm, females 37 mm and more. IN breeding season Males are numerically predominant in reservoirs. This is most likely due to the fact that females immediately leave water bodies after spawning, while males remain in them for a long time. The average annual mortality rate is about 34%. The maximum life expectancy in nature is at least 12 years; in captivity they live up to 22 years.

Nutrition. Among food, about 15-50% are flying insects. Tree frogs eat mainly various beetles, mostly leaf beetles, click beetles, in addition to dipterans, butterfly caterpillars, ants, as well as spiders, earwigs, etc. They hunt, as a rule, passively, hiding and quickly seizing the prey that appears.

The tree frogs themselves become booty, mainly in bodies of water, where they are caught by various reptiles and birds.

Wintering. They leave for the winter at the end of September - October. In the Caucasus and Crimea they are active until November, and in warm winters can be found in December and January. Autumn migrations occur at night, but can also be observed during the daytime. The disappearance of tree frogs coincides with leaf fall. They overwinter in hollows, burrows, under tree roots, in the forest floor, among brushwood and logs, in crevices of stone buildings, pits, basements and cellars, and also, possibly, in silt and at the bottom of reservoirs.

Abundance and conservation status. The common tree frog is a generally common species. Estimates of its abundance are made mainly during the breeding season, when individuals are concentrated in water bodies and are available for censuses. Outside the reproductive period, it is not easy to detect. The nominative subspecies is found on the territory of a number of nature reserves in Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova, where most of its range is located in former USSR. In these countries, the situation of the subspecies is generally favorable and does not cause concern. The situation is different in Russia, where the eastern border of the subspecies lies and where the nominative subspecies is not represented in any reserve. Meanwhile, according to some data, it is in Russia that there has been a decrease in the number of the subspecies and its distribution. It is possible that already in the 1980s, tree frogs of this subspecies completely disappeared from the region. In this regard, urgent research and special conservation measures are needed. Hyla arborea arborea is listed in the Red Book of Latvia (in whose territory it is absent) and Lithuania. It is not listed in the Red Book of the USSR and other European republics.

The Caucasian subspecies is quite common and lives in many nature reserves. The situation with him is good. It is not listed in the Red Book of Russia and the Transcaucasian republics.

Similar species. Easily recognizable look. In Transcaucasia, in a number of places it coexists (or is distributed very closely) with the Asia Minor tree frog, from which it differs in the presence of an inguinal loop. Isolated geographically from the Far Eastern tree frog.

At the Ecosystem Ecological Center you can purchase color identification table " Amphibians and reptiles of central Russia"and a computer identification of amphibians (amphibians) of Russia, as well as others teaching materials on aquatic fauna and flora(see below).

The common tree frog is a small, graceful frog with long hind limbs. The body length rarely reaches 5 cm. Its skin is smooth and shiny.

The usual color of the upper body is emerald green. But the common tree frog is a real chameleon among amphibians: depending on the color of the substrate on which it is located and the temperature, its color can acquire different tones of green, brown, and gray. Sometimes you can even see a white or yellow tree frog. A dark stripe runs along the sides of the head through the eye and eardrum. The ventral side is white or yellow. Males have developed throat resonators. Besides, in mating season They, like other tailless amphibians, form nuptial calluses on their fingers, but they are poorly developed and are hardly noticeable on the miniature fingers of this frog.

Where does the common tree frog live?

The common tree frog is a widespread species in Europe; outside Europe it is found in Transcaucasia and Turkey. Its range extends into Russia in several places. This is the south of the Kaliningrad region, the southwestern regions of the central European part of the country, and Ciscaucasia. It is possible that populations of this species have survived in the basin upstream Volga.

Usually a calm tree frog sits on plants - trunks, branches, leaves of trees and shrubs, among the grass. In this case, the limbs are matched to the body, and the tree frog itself resembles a neat leaf; moreover, as a rule, it takes on the same color as the surrounding background. Therefore, it can be quite difficult to notice.

Lifestyle

Although the tree frog’s usual pastime is sitting completely motionless somewhere on a bush, in reality it is a very active animal: it swims beautifully, jumps on the ground no worse than real frogs, easily climbs any plants and “flies” from branch to branch.

Frogs sitting motionless are invisible not only to us, but also to insects. Of course, the tree frog will not miss the opportunity to grab a fly that inadvertently approaches, but this is just in the meantime (rest). Real hunt starts at dusk. Before this, if possible, the tree frog bathes, replenishing the moisture lost during the day (after refreshing water procedures The tree frog's body weight can increase by 40 percent) and then begins searching for prey. In the dark she sees as well as during the day, and collects all kinds of living creatures. Unlike clumsy toads, tree frogs can also catch small, mobile animals. A significant part of its diet consists of flying insects: flies, mosquitoes, small butterflies. A mosquito is quite a decent prey item for this tiny frog, and tree frogs eat so many of these pesky insects that they deserve our special thanks. On occasion, the tree frog can catch something in the water. It captures small prey with a “shot” of its sticky tongue, grabs larger prey with its jaws and pushes it into its mouth with the help of its front paws.

During the active season, tree frogs, unlike our other amphibians, never hide in ground shelters - holes, crevices, heaps of leaves. They sleep, rest, and take refuge (from heat, bad weather, predators) among foliage and grass. Only for the winter do tree frogs go underground - into the burrows of other animals, crevices under stones or in the ground; can overwinter in hollows or at the bottom of reservoirs.

Tree frog breeding

To reproduce, tree frogs need stagnant bodies of water with banks covered with tall plants- trees, shrubs, reeds. Males sit either in the water or on these plants and attract females by “singing.” The male mating call consists of rhythmic series, each of which contains four to six sharp sounds, similar to “epp-epp-epp-epp”. Thanks to the developed resonators, the sounds are quite strong, considering what a tiny animal produces them. All the local males gather at the spawning pond, forming an impressive chorus. “Singing” is especially intense in the evening, but some males “sing” during the day. Females come to the breeding site for a short time - just to lay eggs, and males stay here the entire period. Therefore, there are always more males in a reservoir than females, and the latter have a large choice. In the competition for females, males use two main techniques. Firstly, intense singing that attracts females. Secondly, the protection of its territory - a certain section of the reservoir into which the male does not allow rivals. It is clear that those who do not have such a territory simply have nowhere to reproduce, even if they manage to attract a female. As a rule, larger and stronger males take over and hold the territory. The success of mating “singing” is related to body size - the trills of massive males have different frequency characteristics than those of small ones, and nature has determined that audio frequencies It is large individuals that are more attractive to females. The latter seem to know that the owners of such a “voice” are in the most suitable place for laying and breeding future offspring. However, the common tree frog, like many tailless amphibians with a developed mating “song,” has developed its own figurative tactics of behavior, allowing those males who failed to take possession of the territory to still leave offspring. Small males sit silently near the “singing” large ones and, on occasion, intercept females heading towards them. A couple can form already on land, but the “invader” cannot be thrown off by any force.

The female lays from 3 to 21 portions of eggs, each of which is a lump of 15-215 eggs attached to plants in the water. One female can lay up to 1800 eggs. The development of embryos lasts one to two weeks, and the larvae grow for one and a half to three months. Often the larvae overwinter and turn into small tree frogs only the next year. Having completed their metamorphosis, miniature tree frogs first stay near the shore of their native reservoir, and then, like adults, they find a place for wintering. They reach sexual maturity at the age of two to four years. In nature they can live up to twelve years. When kept in a terrarium, they reach a more advanced age; There is a known case where a common tree frog lived in captivity for 22 years.

The population density of tree frogs is quite high compared to other amphibians. In some places, tree frogs are as common as some grasshoppers, especially during the period when metamorphosed juveniles reach land. Despite the jumping ability of tree frogs and their ability to hide, practically merging with surrounding objects, numerous predators do not ignore them.

The common tree frog is one of the most bright examples rapid extinction of amphibians. Over the last century, its range within Russia has decreased significantly - it is reliably known that in several central regions of the European part and in Southern Urals During this period the species disappeared. Tree frog populations are also dying in other European countries. The main reason for this sad process is the destruction and industrial pollution of the species’ biotopes. In many countries, the common tree frog is included in the lists of specially protected animals.

Tree frogs are a favorite object of keeping in terrariums. Beautiful and miniature, like porcelain figurines, bright and periodically changing color, clean, they are also always visible (unlike many other amphibians, which you will never see in a terrarium); They are interesting to watch, they are not difficult to feed (preferably with specially bred house flies and fruit flies), they adapt well to captivity and live a long time in a terrarium. The method of breeding and raising tree frogs in captivity has been worked out and is not very difficult. However, tree frogs should not be caught in the natural environment and brought home, much less released elsewhere. Tree frog different types specially bred and sold for home care so as not to harm natural populations.