A master of disguise: The Vietnamese mossy frog

Posted on 14 May 2020

The natural world is full of creepy, curious and clever creatures. One such critter, the Mossy frog, is the embodiment of all these traits.

This peculiar amphibian is native to Vietnam and gets its name from its appearance. The frog’s green body, black spots, tubercles and spines resemble a chunk of moss, which it spends most of its day pretending to be.

If you’re find yourself inside a mossy cave or wandering the banks of a rocky mountain stream in northern Vietnam, you may find yourself a mossy tree frog!

These creatures are difficult to find though and not just because of their appearance. According to the Smithsonian National Zoo, Vietnamese mossy frogs can only project their voices up to 3 to 4 meters, making it nearly impossible to hear their call if there are other sounds.

When threatened or scared, these little frogs will roll into a ball and play dead. Predators include tree-dwelling mammals and snakes, with an appetite for moss.

The mossy frog measures 7 to 8 centimeters and males are generally smaller and thinner than females.

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