“…and today we’re talking about a frog that could have dropped into Normandy. But more on that later.”
In the canopy high, where the tall trees sway,
Lives a frog who glides in a daring display.
With webbed fingers spread, like wings in the breeze,
He leaps from the branches with elegant ease.
The wind is his friend as he soars through the air,
A parachute prince with a confident flair.
From treetop to treetop, he gracefully hops,
Avoiding the dangers of predator drops.
A leap and a glide, in the jungle so wide,
The parachuting frog is nature’s own pride.
Description
Eyes
They have large eyes, which often have a striking appearance. The lower eyelid is marked with patterns of lines, veins, or dots, which helps in camouflage.
Coloration
Their dorsal (upper) surfaces can vary in color, often adapting to their environment. For example, the white-lipped tree frog (Nyctimystes infrafrenatus) can be bright green or brown depending on the temperature and background.
Other species, like (Nyctimystes trachydermis), have a rough dorsal surface with small, conical, white-tipped asperities and can range from dark greenish-brown to gray.
Size
They vary in size, with some species like Nyctimystes trachydermis having males that measure between 72–88 mm (2.8–3.5 inches) in snout-vent length.
Webbing and Toe Discs
These frogs have extensive webbing between their toes and large toe discs, which aid in climbing and gliding.
Measure Up
Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com. We don’t have a new Measure Up intro!
Length
4 inches
The parachuting frog is the same length as…
- 1/19.5 a male domestic pig
- 4 pennies
- 59 staples
Species
26 species in the genus
- ⅓ the amount of box turtle species
- 4.3x the amount of eggs in a pound cake
- 1/4 the amount of calories in a banana
Fact: A pound cake has a pound of each of the four main ingredients.
Fast facts about the Parachute Frog
Unique Eyelids: One of the most distinctive features of Nyctimystes frogs is their lower eyelid, which is marked with patterns of lines, veins, or dots. This feature helps them camouflage when they are at rest during the day.
Habitat: These frogs are primarily found in Papua New Guinea and some nearby islands. They inhabit tropical or subtropical montane rainforests.
Reproduction: The eggs of Nyctimystes frogs are large and are typically laid on submerged objects in fast-flowing creeks and streams. The tadpoles have large sucker-mouths and streamlined bodies, which help them cling to rocks and navigate the currents.
Major Fact: Rendezvous With Destiny
- Webbed Fingers: the parachuting frog has highly webbed fingers, which act like small parachutes when it spreads them out during a jump.
- Surface Area Expansion: By spreading its webbed hands wide, the frog increases its surface area, allowing it to catch more air and slow its descent.
- Controlled Descent: The frog uses its hands to steer and control the direction of its fall, allowing it to glide rather than just drop straight down.
- Air Resistance: The extended fingers create air resistance, which helps the frog to decelerate as it falls, making its landing more controlled and less impactful.
- Gliding Ability: While not true flight, the frog’s hand-webbing allows it to glide from tree to tree or down to the ground, similar to how a flying squirrel glides.
- Maneuverability: The frog can adjust the position of its hands mid-air, altering its glide path to navigate obstacles or aim for a specific landing spot.
- Energy Efficiency: By parachuting, the frog conserves energy that would otherwise be used in a long climb down or a risky fall.
- Predator Avoidance: This parachuting ability helps the frog escape predators by quickly leaping and gliding to safety, often moving too fast for predators to catch.
- Tree-to-Tree Travel: In its arboreal habitat, the frog uses its parachuting ability to move between trees without having to descend to the ground, minimizing exposure to ground-based threats.
Ending: So spread your hands, take a leap of faith, and rendezvous with destiny like the parachuting frog here in LDT.