Waxy Monkey Tree Frog

About the Waxy Monkey Tree Frog

Phyllomedusa sauvagii, the waxy monkey leaf frog or waxy monkey tree frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. This species is arboreal, living in the vegetation of the Gran Chaco.

The waxy monkey leaf frog breeds during the rainy season, which typically lasts from October until March. Mating does not occur continuously throughout the season, only during or shortly after periods of heavy rainfall. Males will find a shrub or tree near or in a body of water where they will begin to vocalize to attract females. They are amplectant maters and, as such, breeding pairs create their nest of eggs together. The pair will move towards their oviposition site, usually on a leaf overhanging a body of water, where the male will assist the female in laying her eggs while simultaneously fertilizing them.

A critical aspect of the reproductive success of waxy monkey leaf frogs is their oviposition site. Their eggs are highly permeable to water and will desiccate in nesting sites that are too arid or exposed to the sun. Its nest must also be on a leaf... Wikipedia →