Southern tree frog

The Southern tree-frog, is a species of amphibians of the family of Hylidae. This small jewel of the nature, is a very close relative of the green Tree frog (Hyla arborea, Linné on 1758). She distinguishes itself from her by the dark side band which underlines the eyes but does not go on on side, and by its slower singing. The color of the southern tree-frog may be nuanced to brown, and the dark lateral band that emphasizes her eyes does not extend on the flanks. This is an arboreal species, small-sized which reaches 5 cms with one maximum size 6.5 cms long. They live until 6 - 7 years. The perfectly smooth back and generally an apple green color, assures him an excellent camouflage in its natural environment. She possesses adhesive disks (kind of suction cups) at the end of the very long fingers which allow him to adhere to any surface in particular to hold perfectly on tree leaves and shrubs where she hides.
She loves the marshy tracts, sunny ponds surrounded by reeds and bushes. It is fed by small insects, especially mosquitoes and many invertebrates, but mainly also Coleoptera Diptera, Hymenoptera (ants ...).
The male of the southern tree-frog, sings at night on its site of reproduction. This singing, (succession of " côôa " hoarse and spaced out) is very powerful, amplified by the yellow gular vocal sac, proportionally bigger than that of the green tree frog (at its maximum inflation, it exceeds very widely the width of the head). This singing can carry in several hundred meters of distance.
The southern tree-frogs regroup together from March to June on the sites of reproduction. For the reproduction, this one lays in temporary puddles.. The breeding season lasts until 3month from March to May, mating occurs at night.
This species is protected in France.