Stranger Things: Meet the waxy monkey tree frog

Issue: Spring 2018

If you’ve ever been annoyed by the cost of sunscreen, you might envy the waxy monkey tree frog. Found in the dry scrub forests of South America’s Chaco region, this portly little amphibian spends most of its life in the treetops, where it snoozes for hours in the hot sun. Most frogs can’t tolerate prolonged sunbathing; it would dry out their porous skin, which needs to stay moist. But Phyllomedusa sauvagii produces a waxy substance that covers its skin with a protective layer—basically, frog sunblock.

WAXY MONKEY TREE FROG

Phyllomedusa sauvagii

Range Dry Chaco forests of eastern Bolivia, northern Paraguay, Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil), and northern Argentina

Habitat Trees and other plants near temporary lagoons and ponds

Diet Primarily insects

Threats International pet trade; destruction of Chaco habitat in Argentina and Paraguay for agriculture and logging

Eggs The eggs are folded into a large leaf suspended over a pond or lagoon. When they hatch, the tadpoles drop down into the water and begin growing.

Deamorphin The frog’s secretions contain dermorphin, a unique natural opioid that’s 40 times stronger than morphine. In recent years, a synthetic version of the chemical has been used illegally in the US as a powerful performance-enhancing drug for racehorses.

Prehensile Hands with Opposable Thumbs

The frog’s well-adapted hands are used for gripping tree branches and helping it to walk, rather than hop, through its treetop habitat (hence the “monkey” in its name).

Back Legs

The frog uses its incredibly flexible back legs for walking through the treetops and spreading the waxy secretions over its entire body.

Application

Using its feet, the waxy monkey tree frog spreads lipids from glands in its skin by a series of dexterous movements.

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About: World Wildlife magazine provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the connections between animals, people and our planet. Published quarterly by WWF, the magazine helps make you a part of our efforts to solve some of the most pressing issues facing the natural world.

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