Mexican Treefrog (Smilisca baudinii) lives in tropical rainforest across Southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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A real field recording of the Mexican Treefrog, made in the wild.
It is a nocturnal frog whose range stretches from the Sonoran Desert and Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley all the way to Costa Rica. This extensive north-south distribution means the species can be encountered from arid desert margins to tropical lowlands. Within that band it prefers lightly forested habitats that stay close to permanent water bodies, where it can find shelter and breeding sites.
Its scattered populations have produced a slew of synonymous names and caused researchers to redescribe it repeatedly. The taxonomic chaos stems from disjunct groups that occur in separate parts of its range, leading to multiple classifications for the same species. Field scientists have mistakenly redescribed the frog on several occasions, adding to the confusion of its scientific identity.
In the United States it is listed as a threatened species, but only within Texas. The frog has only been reported in a few counties of the state, and no reliable estimates of its total population have been produced. Because of this limited knowledge, conservation officials cannot gauge how many individuals remain or how their numbers are changing. The lack of data underscores the precarious status of the species in that region.
In Texas the Mexican tree frog is listed as threatened, reflecting its precarious situation at the northern edge of its range. It has only been reported from a handful of counties, meaning its distribution there is extremely limited. Because surveys have not produced any reliable population estimates, officials cannot determine how many individuals remain or whether numbers are declining.
The frog's body is a muted brown-grey colour marked with irregular darker brown blotches, giving it a camouflaged appearance among bark and leaves. Its ventral side is a lighter grey or white, contrasting with the darker dorsal pattern. The legs stand out because each limb bears striking dark bands that run along the limbs, a feature that is especially noticeable when the frog leaps.
Sources
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RangeSoutheastern United States, Mexico, Central America
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietInsects and worms
About the Mexican Treefrog
In the lush, vibrant rainforests of Mexico, the Mexican Treefrog embarks on a nocturnal odyssey, its slender limbs and webbed feet carrying it with silent ease through the dense, emerald canopy. As it moves, its mottled, grey-brown skin blends seamlessly with the dappled shadows, allowing it to navigate this mystical world with an air of stealthy nonchalance, its large, golden eyes drinking in every detail of its surroundings. With a voice that rings out like a low, throaty whistle, the Mexican Treefrog serenades the night, its melancholy song a haunting counterpoint to the rustling leaves and chirping insects that fill the air.
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