How Tree Frogs Change Color Tree frogs change color using specialized pigment cells called chromatophores, located within their skin. There are three main types: melanophores, in the deepest layer, contain dark brown or black melanin. Above them, iridophores reflect light, creating iridescent blues and greens.
Tree frogs mainly change color before mating in order to attract the female tree frogs. They can also change color to avoid predators, thermoregulation, intercommunication or a change in the environment. In this article, I'll try to highlight some amazing facts on this sudden fluctuation of colors in tree frogs.
For example, American green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) have a green basic color, but they can change to a shade of yellow, or brown. However, a few tree frog species are capable of rapid, dramatic color change. Many Tree Frog Species Can Change Their Color There are over 800 known tree frog species around the world, sporting many different colors.
The Gray Tree Frog is native to North America, and you can find them throughout the eastern part of the country. They can change color from gray to green to blend in with their surroundings and prefer to stay near trees. After dusk, they emit a loud musical call to establish a breeding territory and find a mate.
Pacific tree frogs come in two main flavors: brown and green. Some frogs stay the same color for their entire lives, but some can change from brown to green, or vice versa, depending on whether the background is dark (brown) or light (green). Discover the fascinating color-changing abilities of the Gray Tree Frog at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, and learn about their unique survival strategies.
The tree frog's ability to change color is a form of camouflage, which provides them with a distinct advantage in their natural habitat. Tree frogs have specialized skin cells called chromatophores, which contain pigments that give them their color. The tree frog family Hylidae contains a diverse array of colorful species.
Frogs incapable of color change are termed monochromatic; those that do change color at some point in their life cycle are dichromatic. In this article we look at 19 different species of tree frogs. There's an additional 14 species of chorus frogs found in the United States.
Tree frogs can be a variety of colors, but most of the species found in the United States are green, gray, or brown. Some of them, like the squirrel tree frog (Hyla squirella), are chameleon.