South American waxy tree frog
- Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis
- The waxy tree frog is native to the central part of South America.
- Females are generally 3 ¼ inches and males are generally under three inches.
- The waxy tree frog is active mainly at night, when it hunts for insects.
- It's also called the monkey frog because of its long legs.
- The skin of this frog has a waxy coating that helps protect the animal from drying out. This is important in helping the frog stay moist and cool in its hot, dry habitat. The waxy tree frog secretes fatty substances which - through elaborate wiping motions. They grease over their
entire bodies. Amphibian skin offers little resistance to water loss, so amphibians that live in or near water developed either behavioral and physiological adaptations in order to avoid drought, like being nocturnal, subterranean or passing the dry season in a dormant stage.
Location at Palm Beach Zoo
- In the Marketplace in the Tropics of the Americas
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