The Sierran Treefrog is a species of tiny frog that is mostly found in Western Montana in regions that provide the appropriate environment. The species can be extremely common in some places but is frequently heard but not seen. Only via genetic analysis, it is possible to differentiate this species from its close relative, the Pacific Tree Frog.
Pseudacris sierra, also known as the Sierran treefrog, is the only species of frog that can be found on campuses, and it is more likely to be heard than seen. They come in many different colors, like green, brown, tan, reddish, or grey, and their undersides are light and creamy. Each of their eyes has a dark eye stripe.
In a short amount of time, the body color can go from being dark to light. Even though they spend the majority of their day on the ground, Sierran Treefrogs are exceptional climbers and feature large pads on the tips of their toes. Tadpoles range from dark brown to black. These frogs possess different colors.
Sierran Treefrog Eggs
Sierran Treefrogs are often found in a variety of places in California, such as grasslands, chaparral, forests, and even cities.
This species reproduces and lays eggs between November and July in slow-moving water. During a season, a single female lays up to 750 eggs. It requires about 3 weeks for the eggs to germinate. While some females may lay as many as 750 eggs, most lay between 18 and 119 in clutches just a few millimeters long.
Each egg is dark grey to tan on top and white to cream on the bottom. There are two layers of jelly around each egg. The size of the ovum is about 1.3 mm, but the size of the whole egg, along with the two jelly layers, is between 4.6 and 6.7 mm.
Sierran Treefrog Diet
A large proportion of the Sierran Treefrog’s diet consists of flying insects. These invertebrates are primarily seen on the surface of the ground at night. It is not uncommon for them to eat throughout the daytime during the breeding season.
Frogs, like most amphibians, use their eyes to spot potential meals, which they then pursue by lunging at them with a long, sticky tongue. The adults of this species of frog survive mostly on a diet consisting of insects and other invertebrates, while the tadpoles eat a variety of protozoa, bacteria, algae, and organic and inorganic waste. They are suspension feeders. This is typical for many kinds of frogs.
