The European tree
frog, Hyla arborea (formerly Rana arborea) is a small tree frog found in Europe, Asia and part of Africa. Based on molecular genetic and other data, a number of taxa formerly treated as subspecies of H. arborea are now generally recognized as full species
European tree frogs are small; males range from 1.3 to 1.8 in (32–43 mm) in length, and females range from 1.6 to 2.0 in (40–50 mm) in length. They are slender, with long legs. Their dorsal skin is smooth, while their ventral skin is granular.
Their dorsal skin can be green, gray, or tan depending on the temperature, humidity, or their mood. Their ventral skin is a whitish color, and the dorsal and ventral skin is separated by a dark brown lateral stripe from the eyes to the groin. Females have white throats, while males have golden brown throats with large (folded) vocal sacs. The head of H. arborea is rounded, the lip drops strongly, the pupil has the shape of a horizontal ellipse, and the tympanum is clearly recognizable. Also, the discs on the frog's toes, which it uses to climb trees and hedges, is a characteristic feature of H. arborea . Also, like other
frogs, their hind legs are much larger and stronger than the fore legs, enabling the frogs to jump rapidly.
European tree
frogs reproduce in stagnant bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds, swamps, reservoirs, and sometimes puddles, from late March to June. They croak in the breeding season, even when migrating to their mating pools or ponds. Males will often change breeding ponds, even within the same breeding season. After a spring rain, the males will call females from low vegetation or shallow ponds. About 800 to 1,000 eggs are laid in clumps the size of a walnut. Individual eggs are about 1.5 mm in diameter. After 10–14 days, the eggs hatch. Then, after three months, tadpoles metamorphose into frogs. Metamorphosis usually peaks from late July to early August. They are able to live for up to 15 years.