Tree Frog

Profile

Tree Frogs are small frogs that spend much of their lives in trees, shrubs, and tall plants. They're known for their climbing skills, sticky toes, and gentle nighttime calls that fill forests and wetlands in warmer months.

Habitat & Range

Tree Frogs live in forests, swamps, and gardens across much of the world. In North America, they're found from coast to coast, thriving anywhere with trees and nearby water for breeding—especially ponds, wetlands, and quiet streams.

Diet & Role in the Ecosystem

Diet: They eat insects and other small invertebrates such as flies, crickets, beetles, and moths. Their long, sticky tongues let them snatch prey in a flash.

Predators: Snakes, birds, raccoons, and larger frogs eat adult Tree Frogs. Tadpoles are often eaten by fish and aquatic insects.

Ecological Role: Tree Frogs help control insect populations and serve as food for many other animals. Because they breathe partly through their skin, they are sensitive to pollution and changes in water quality, making them important indicators of a healthy environment.

Behavior & Adaptations

They have sticky toe pads that let them cling to leaves and bark, even upside down. Some can change color slightly to blend in with their surroundings. In colder climates, certain species survive freezing temperatures by slowing their heartbeat and producing natural antifreeze in their bodies.

Interesting Fact

Even though they're called "Tree Frogs," not all species live high in trees—many stay closer to the ground in tall grasses or low shrubs.

Conservation Status

Status: Most Tree Frog species are stable, though habitat loss, pollution, and climate change threaten some local populations.