Common Name: Fringed Leaf Frog
Scientific Name: Cruziohyla craspedopus
Family: Hylidae – Tree Frog family
Location: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
Female Size: 2.7 – 2.9 inches (69 – 73 mm)
Male Size: 2.2 inches (55 – 57 mm)
The Fringed Leaf Frog lives in the canopy of trees in the lowland Amazon rain forest. They spend most of the day blending into leaves. They become active at night to hunt for small insects that make up their diet. The frogs breed during the seasonal rains. The male frogs move down from the canopy and start calling to attract the female frogs. Once the female frog arrives, the male frog grasps her from behind in amplexus. The female frog lays her eggs on leaves or branches over hanging a water-filled cavity in the tree. Once the eggs hatch, tadpoles emerge and fall into the water below.
The Fringed Leaf Frog can be found in the pet trade. Make sure to read my article “Preparing for a Pet Frog or Toad” before buying one and remember to always buy captive bred frogs.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the Fringed Leaf Frog as Least Concern for Extinction. This is due to their wide range and presumed large population. There are no major threats to the species but individual populations are threatened by habitat loss to make room for farms.