What Do Four-lined Tree Frogs Have in Common with Leopards?
by Vanessa Ting
Answer: These frogs love to live in trees. The clue is in their name, 'Tree Frogs', which means that they are arboreal, spending most of their lifespan in high vegetation. Here, you can see the Polypedates leucomystax, also known as the Four-lined Tree Frog (based on the lines on its back), snug in a young banana leaf.
This frog doesn't even lay its eggs in water! The eggs will be encased in a foam nest glued to twigs above a pond or a puddle. The only time the Polypedates leucomystax lives in water is when it is hatched. The young tadpole will fall from the nest into the puddle below.
Another common name for this species is the Common Tree Frog, which may be due to its widespread range. In fact, the Polypedates leucomystax is considered among the 100 Japan's worst invasive species! In Malaysia, they seem to prefer habitats close to human activity, such as agricultural areas, ditches and even houses.
This photograph was taken in the Institute of Biological Sciences (ISB) by Prof. Emeritus Dr Yong Hoi Sen of the ISB, UM.
Four-lined Tree Frogs are friendly creatures - want to meet some? Keep an eye out for frog identification, or 'frogging' sessions periodically organised by Water Warriors or RIMBA!
