Squirrel Tree Frog
Hyla squirella
The Squirrel Tree Frog is a small, adaptable amphibian from the southeastern US, famous for its rapid color changes and chattering call.
Environnement
Terrestre
Humidité
60 - 80 %
Température diurne
22 - 28 °C
Température nocturne
18 - 22 °C
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Hyla squirella is native to the southeastern United States, ranging from Texas to Virginia and throughout Florida. It thrives in humid habitats, including pine flatwoods, marshes, swamp edges, and suburban gardens.
Taxonomy and Genetics: First described by Louis Augustin Guillaume Bosc in 1800. It belongs to the Hylidae family. There are no subspecies, though populations show high morphological adaptability and genetic variations across their range.
Behavior and Habits: Chiefly nocturnal and highly arboreal. During the day, they shelter in moist, dark crevices, under bark, or within dense foliage. They become active at night, climbing through vegetation to forage for small invertebrates.
Morphology: A small tree frog, measuring between 2.5 and 4 cm in snout-vent length. They are masters of physiological color change, shifting from bright green to brown or grey within minutes. They often have a yellowish stripe on the upper lip.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Terrarium Setup: A vertically oriented enclosure of 60 to 80 liters is suitable for a small group of 3-4 frogs. Substrate should be moisture-retentive, like coconut husk or organic topsoil, covered with leaf litter, branches, and live plants.
Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures between 22°C and 26°C. Provide a gentle thermal gradient but avoid high-wattage basking lights, which can dry out the frogs. A low-output 2% UVB lamp helps maintain healthy skin.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity levels between 60% and 80% through twice-daily misting with conditioned water. Provide a shallow, dechlorinated water dish for soaking, as frogs absorb moisture through their skin.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly insectivorous. Feed small live insects such as pinhead crickets, flightless fruit flies, and small roaches. Dust prey items with a high-quality calcium and D3 supplement twice a week.
Compatibility: Peaceful and communal. Can be safely housed with other individuals of the same species. Do not house with larger, aggressive frog species or reptiles that require dry desert conditions.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly susceptible to skin infections, toxic shock from water contamination, and chytridiomycosis. Always handle them with clean, wet hands or powder-free nitrile gloves to protect their sensitive skin.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Hyla squirella is native to the southeastern United States, ranging from Texas to Virginia and throughout Florida. It thrives in humid habitats, including pine flatwoods, marshes, swamp edges, and suburban gardens.
Origine
Amérique du Nord
Profil d'amphibien
- Régime alimentaire
- Insectivore
- This species is primarily insectivorous, consuming a wide variety of small invertebrates like crickets, flies, and roaches in the wild. In captivity, a similar varied diet should be provided, dusted regularly with calcium and multivitamin supplements. Appropriately sized live food is essential to trigger their natural feeding response.
- Espérance de vie
- 3-8 years
- Taille adulte
- 4.1 cm
- Mode de vie/microhabitat
- Arboreal
- Depending on their morphology, they may live exclusively in trees, on the forest floor, or near bodies of water. A properly designed vivarium must provide the correct balance of humidity, temperature, and specific microhabitats. Ample vertical climbing space or deep substrate should be provided accordingly.
- Cycle d'activité
- Nocturnal
- Most are strictly nocturnal, becoming active at dusk to hunt and vocalize under the cover of darkness. This pattern helps them avoid diurnal predators and prevents desiccation from the heat of the sun. During daylight hours, they remain motionless in hidden spots to conserve energy and retain moisture.
- Sociabilité
- Gregarious
- They exhibit fascinating behaviors that vary depending on their exact habitat, often relying on camouflage to avoid predators. Many display remarkable agility and jumping prowess when startled or while hunting. Social interactions are generally limited to breeding seasons when males become highly territorial.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding typically occurs following heavy rainfall or during the wet season. Males attract females with distinctive vocalizations from specific calling sites near water. Depending on the exact species, eggs may be laid in water, on foliage overhanging water, or in specialized foam nests.
- Toxicité
- Harmless
- This tree frog species is completely non-toxic and harmless. They rely on their excellent camouflage to avoid predation. They do not possess any dangerous skin secretions.
- Stade de vie
- Neotenic
- Their lifecycle includes an aquatic tadpole phase in shallow wetlands. Following metamorphosis, the small froglets take to the trees and shrubs. They grow rapidly, reaching maturity within their first year.
- Tolérance aux manipulations
- Display only
- Handling should be kept to an absolute minimum. Their delicate skin easily absorbs harmful oils and salts from human hands. If movement is required, gently guiding them into a container is best.
- Brumation
- Non requise
- In cooler northern parts of their range, they undergo winter brumation. They hide under bark or debris to survive freezing temperatures. In captivity, a slight temperature drop can simulate winter without full brumation.
- Mue
- Periodic
- These frogs shed their skin regularly to keep it healthy and permeable. The process involves contorting the body to pull off the old skin. The shed is always eaten immediately to regain nutrients.
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