Common Name: Seychelles Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Tachycnemis seychellensis
Family: Hyperoliidae – African Tree Frog family
Location: Seychelles
Female Size: 3.0 inches (76 mm)
Male Size: 2.0 (51 mm)
As the name suggests, the Seychelles Tree Frog is an arboreal tree frog found only in the rainforests of the Seychelles Islands. They are found on the islands of Mahe, La Digue, Silhouette, and Praslin. The coloration of the frog changes between the islands. On Mahe and Praslin, the female frogs are green and the male frogs are brown. On La Digue and Silhouette, both sexes of the frog are green in color. They are primarily active at night and spends the day sleeping on the back of leaves and fronds in the trees.
During the breeding season, the male frogs come down from the trees and move to still water. There, the male frogs come together to form breeding aggregations to attract female frogs with their calls. Not much is known about the details of their breeding. Mating peaks in December. The female frogs lay between 100 – 500 eggs but where seems to be contradicting between sources. One says the female frog lays their eggs next to the stream and waits for the floods to wash the eggs into the water. Another source says they lay their eggs on vegetation in the water. If you are from the Seychelles, I would love to hear from you.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assess the Seychelles Tree Frog as Least Concern for Extinction. While the tree frog has a small range, it is fairly common and is adaptable to changes in the environment.