Squirrel tree frog is an amphibian whose scientific name is Hyla squirella. Its common name is tree frog. The name ‘squirrel’ is because of it makes the squirrel-like call. The family of tree frogs is diverse which includes about 800 species. They spend most of their lifespan on trees, known as the arboreal state.This species mainly habitats in the Coastal Plains of South Carolina and Georgia. These regions are moist which provides food and shelter that include swamps, marshes, edges of streams and lakes. The tree frog can also live in bushes, gardens, woods, shrubs and under the logs.
Squirrel tree frogs are of average size compared to other tree frogs. An adult squirrel tree frog is about 1.5 inches. They exist in different colors that range from green, yellowish, gray or brown. An interesting fact about this species of a tree frog is that they have chameleon-like ability to change color where they can assume a variety of colors. Sometimes they appear plain or spotted, some have light broken stripes on their backs and along the jaw and some have bars between their eyes. Their toes have toe pads for clinging to trees (Martof, 1963).
The squirrel tree frog breeds between March and October. After the rains, mating occurs. The male tree frogs attract the females with calls or ‘quacks’. After mating, the female lays about 1000 eggs in a pond, shallow pools or a roadside ditch. Within a month, it hatches into tadpoles. The tadpoles metamorphose after about 40-50 days. They mature by losing the tail and growing legs and, therefore, reach adult size.
Frog’s skin is special. Is has four main functions; it is protective, it is a respiratory organ; it controls body temperature and absorbing water. Its skin has glands that exude toxic substances. It secretes sticky substances that keep the skin moist, makes the tree frog slippery so as to escape from its predators and offers protection against entry of bacteria and molds. Tree frog’s skin of shed after every few weeks...