Category: Amphibians
This small, arboreal frog is widespread in the Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada. They are able to camouflage themselves by changing their skin color to match their surroundings. They change color at a slower rate than a chameleon, but can vary their hue from nearly black to almost white. The gray tree frog has an extra set of chromosomes, so is sometimes also called the tetraploid gray tree frog. An astonishing adaptation of these frogs is that they can survive freezing of their internal bodily fluids to as low as -8 degrees Celsius!
Learn more about the Gray Tree Frog at Wikipedia and Reptiles Magazine.
Swiss Army Skin
Amphibian skin is not covered in hair, feathers, or scales. It is thin and permeable, which allows them to actually breathe and drink through their skin! Their skin is not watertight, but they have mucous glands that produce secretions to help keep them from drying out Their skin also serves as a handy defense mechanism: nearly all amphibians have poison glands that make their skin toxic - and on top of that, it can even serve as a tasty treat after they shed it (yes, many amphibians eat their own sloughed off skin)!
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