Japanese Tree Frog

Japanese tree frogs are on average 32.81±0.96 mm in length. They have an average skull width of 12.02±0.36 mm and an average skull length of 9.38±0.14 mm. The dorsal body of Japanese tree frog is green/brown and the ventral body is white. It is also characterized by a dark spot on the upper lip below the eye. Female Japanese tree frogs, on average, are larger in size compared to male. It has a dark vocal sac.

Abnormal coloration. Some Japanese tree frogs are abnormally colored. Frogs observed in South Korea were found to be entirely blue, while others yellow, with green dorsal patterns. Another frog found in Russia was observed to be fully blue, and was captured for observation, where it ultimately returned to a green/brown color. Specific reasons behind such observations in color are currently unexplained, but mutations and maladaptations have been put forth by scientists as possible explanations. Further work must be conducted in order to elucidate the mechanisms behind these color changes.

Japanese tree frogs are found in many parts of Asia, specifically in Japan, China, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. It inhabits forest-like environments, bushlands, meadows, swamps, and river valleys. Japanese tree frog, like most frog species, inhabit locations with both aquatic and terrestrial features. This is due to the necessity of the frog life cycle for both water and land.

Changes in availability of native Japanese tree frog habitats have resulted in rice paddies serving as lodging for it. It seems to be able to inhabit these rice paddies successfully and have a demonstrated preference for sites high in vegetation.

The behavior of Japanese tree frog when exposed to microgravity has been experimentally investigated. These frogs, under such microgravity conditions, would bend their neck backwards. These frogs would also walk backwards, an observation consistent with the behavior of sick frogs. The combination of neck backwards movement and backward walking could be indicators of motion sickness in the frogs. They were shown to adapt to the microgravity and were able to improve their jumping and perching activity over time. Japanese tree frogs, under micro-gravitational conditions, were also observed to attempt to eat but were unable to ingest the food. All the frogs that were sent to space were safely recovered and were observed to resume normal function after 2.5 hours back under normal gravity.