Argentine Leaf Frog

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Name: Argentine Leaf Frog
Scientific name: Phyllomedusa sauvagii
Range: The Chacoan region of Bolivia, Northern Paraguay, MatoGrosso do Sul (Brazil), and Northern Argentina
Habitat: Rain forest
Status:  Not endangered
Diet in the wild:  Small insects
Diet in the zoo:  Small insects 
Location in the zoo:  Herpetarium 

 
 
Physical description: 

photo courtesy of       

  • Female up to 1 3/4 in. or 8.5 cm. 
  • Male up to 1 7/16 in. or 7 cm. 
  • Color green. 
  • Hind legs are smaller than local frogs. 

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General information: 

Frogs live independently.  They lay eggs on a leaf.  This is why its called a leaf frog.  Then they roll it up and make sure it stays that way ith a waxy substance that they produce.  Then when it rains, the eggs get caught by the water and are rushed out of the leaf and into a pond or other body of water.  The eggs hatch and the baby spends the first part of its life as a tadpole.  Eventually the tadpole forms legs and its gills change to lungs.  It is then that the tadpole comes onto land in the form of a frog.  This frog catches very small insects such as flies and ants for its food.

 
Special anatomical, physiological 
or behavioral adaptations:

The Argentine Leaf Frog has several features that distinguish him from other species.  His green skin generally matches the color of the vegetation around his home.  The white spots are not only used for identification between frogs, but also for camoflauge from predators.

 
Comments about the frogs of the Fort Worth Zoo:

The Argentine Leaf Frog at the Fort Worth Zoo is a Female.  Right now the zoo only has one of these frogs on exhibit. 

 
Personal Observations:

In the zoo this frog stays in the same place most of the time.  It is not the most exciting animal to watch, but it certainly is one of the more beautiful species in the Herpetarium.
 

 
A special thanks to everyone at the Fort Worth zoo for their help. 

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Page author:  Andrew Sheffler 

Send E-mail to:  big_daddy_drew_777@yahoo.com

or to:   mac@whozoo.org
 


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