Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Common Indian Tree Frog


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The other day as I went to open the front door in the morning, guess who was at my doorstep? This little tree frog that I had seen a few times before was looking a little lost and didn't know which way to go!;) I helped it out with a little stick (on which it climbed) and then I placed it next to my Monstera plant. It quickly grasped a new leaf and stayed like that for several minutes giving me the opportunity to take several shots.

The Common Indian tree frog/Polypedates maculatus is mostly brownish, yellowish, greyish, or whitish with darker spots and markings. They are about 7 to 8 centimetres in body length. Their call is a sudden short and rapid series of rattling rats-tats. It is widespread throughout Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Srilanka as well as western and southern Bangladesh. Its range might also extend to China and Myanmar.

They have dry roosts that they may use regularly. They wipe themselves with skin secretions consisting of mucus and lipids that help in reducing moisture loss. When temperatures are higher, they secrete from the skin, pant and adopt lighter colours. (Source: Wikipedia).


Here are some facts about frogs that I found online:-

Frogs shed their skin several times a year. They also eat their skin.

A group of frogs is called an army and a group of toads is called a knot!

In Brazil, the world's only fruit eating frog leaps with its mouth wide open at ripe fruit hanging on trees.

The world's biggest frog is the Goliath frog/Conraua goliath. They can grow to nearly a foot in length.

                                                                                                      

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't believe what great photos you were able to capture. The last one is my favorite. A very interesting post!

lotusleaf said...

Very interesting post.I am fond of frogs, and there are many in my garden too. They are the favourite snack of snakes!

joey said...

Love toads/frogs and that last photo is wonderful!

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

Those are great photos Kanak - what a little cutie he is.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Hi Kanak, the world of frogs is very interesting. I did not know that they shed their skin and eat it. The photos are very good, he looks quite skinny, he has to fatten up on Mossies!
I like the frogs in the garden, many tiny treefrogs, only 2cm long, lettuce green or brownish yellow, enjoy my garden. They have a very loud call despite they are so small.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Very interesting facts! The frog is cute, I imagine he is pretty timy?

Wendy said...

Don't know if you got my last comment. Just said I like little frogs and toads and that here in Canada it is good luck to find one in your garden. So, good luck for you Kanak!
If this comment is a double - just delete one of them.
Hugs

Cyren said...

Wow Kanak! Amazing! Great shots and all but also those are some pretty neat facts about frogs that I had no idea about. Who'd have thought of calling a group of frogs an "army!" hahahaha I find the thought rather amusing and I suppose I understand now why some people call my friends in the army "frogman!" I always thought before this it was a reference to his baldness (frogs being hairless and all) but now I know!

Are these frogs common in India? We sometimes find toads where I live but they are very small, like the size of a fingernail but I have seen some to grow quite big as well.

Nature Rambles said...

Mildred, Lotusleaf, Joey & Rosie... thank you so much!

Trudi, I wish we had green frogs and green lizards in my garden but they're all grey or brown. I did get a little lost while looking up online for frog facts. Many interesting facts...I did gain a lot!

Ginny, it was tiny. Maybe about 6" long.

Wendy... oh, I didn't. But thanks for checking on me. I'd like to take it that way ...that luck is on my side!:)) (Hugs)

Cyren...these are common in India. I've seen the tree frog several times. Sometimes on my curtains too, especially during the rainy season.

I hope your Cambodian trip is going great!