Are all hylid frogs actually tree frogs?
No. While Hylidae is commonly called the tree frog family, many of its members are terrestrial, semiaquatic, or burrowing. Species in the genus Cyclorana, for example, spend most of their lives underground.
Questions about Hylidae
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How old is the Hylidae family?
The earliest fossils confidently assigned to Hylidae come from the Cretaceous period, found in India and in the state of Wyoming in the United States, meaning the family predates the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.
How did tree frogs reach Australia?
The subfamily Pelodryadinae, which includes Australia's tree frogs, colonized the continent during the Eocene epoch by crossing Antarctica via a land bridge that existed before the continent froze over.
What physical features help hylids climb trees?
Most hylids have forward-facing eyes that provide binocular vision for judging distances, and adhesive pads on their fingers and toes for gripping surfaces. Species that do not live in trees often have reduced or absent versions of these features.
Where does the spring peeper live?
Pseudacris crucifer, the spring peeper, is widespread across the eastern United States and is commonly heard on spring and summer evenings.
Do all hylids lay their eggs in ponds?
No. Depending on species, hylids lay eggs in ponds, tree hollows, bromeliads, on leaves overhanging water, attached to rocks in fast streams, or brooded on the female's back.