Stripeless Tree frog, Hyla meridionalis Boettger, 1874
History and origin
The Stripeless Tree frog was first described by Boettger in 1874, the scientific name of this species is Hyla meridionalis. Hyla meaning 'to bark', this names is given because of this frogs bark-like call. Meridionalis is from Latin and means 'southern'.
Characteristics
This species is characterised by the absence of the thick black line on the flanks. Hence their name: the STRIPELESS tree frog.
Description
=Size=
- Eggs: The eggs are about 2 mm in diameter, laid in individual balls of about 4 mm in diameter.
- Tadpoles: The tadpoles measure 3 to 5 mm long when they hatch, growing up to 50 mm long.
- Juveniles: The juveniles measure 15 to 20 mm long when they exit the water.
- Adults: Adults measure up to 65 mm long max. (averaging between 50 to 55 mm long).
=Morphology=
- Eggs: The eggs are laid individual balls that are laid in small groups of about 30 (= 1 mass).
- Tadpoles: They have a large, very tall tail coming onto the back. Their eyes are on the sides.
- Adults: They are an elegant, slim frog with very long and thin hind legs, their skin is very smooth. Their snout is rounded, they do not have paratoid glands, their pupils are horizontal. The hind feet webbing is average, They have no dorsolateral folds.. =Patterns & colours=
- Eggs: They are small yellowish, creamy rounded eggs encased inside an individual transparent ball.
- Tadpole: Their general colouring is yellowish, blue... they seem to change colour with light effects being blue, golden, yellowish, brown...
- Adult: They are usually bright green with a black line bordered with white running from their nose down towards their front legs passing through their eyes. Sometimes there may be small blotches placed irregularly along the back, they are darker then the background colour. Sometimes specimens may be greyish brown with or without these darker blotches. 1 in 25000 is the average for a blue specimen. There may be a mix of these colours and patterns (ex.: a blue specimen with a greyish back). The males vocal sac is usually yellowish. Their eyes are golden yellowish, and their belly is whitish.
Geographical range They are found generally in southern France although absent from around over 700 m in altitude in the Pyrenees. They are found in Spanish Catalonia but absent over all of central, northern and south eastern Spain. They are found in south western Spain and southern Portugal.
Subspecies
None described.
Sexual differences
Females are larger. Males have a vocal sac which is visible when not in use thanks to its yellowish colour.
Seasonal variations
At the beginning of the year, specimens are darker due to their need to heat up faster.
Diet
They feed on 7/10 insects and their larva, 2/10 spiders and other kinds of creatures. Tadpoles mainly eat vegetation and ants.
Defensive habits
When they are touched, they emit a mucus from their skin. They may also emit a distress call.
Reproduction
The breeding season can last up to 3 months between March and May, mating occurs at night. Reproduction sites are usually small well vegetated areas of water like ponds, marshes... also flooded fields, temporary marshes and ponds... The male jumps onto the females back and with his hands takes a grip around the front end of her belly just behind the front legs. With his chin glued to the females neck (back of the neck). When the female moves the male lifts his legs up and hangs on for a ride. The male gently squeezes the female and when the eggs start to be laid the male fertilizes them. Then the male carefully wraps them on roots or wood, branches or even a stem of grass all in the water.
Sexual maturity, life span
The average life span for Hyla meridionalis is about 6 years, they reach their sexual maturity in their second year for males and in their third year for females.
Habits
More active at night, although also seen by day. The Stripeless Tree frog gets around easier on the ground then by the trees. They are often found less higher up in the trees then the Common Tree frog.
Call
A loud bark-like call 'kraar...kraar...kraar' called on average once a second. The distance between males who are singing is at least 50 cm, sound (p)www.oreilleverte.com:
Habitat
They are found usually under the altitude of 600 m, they enjoy areas with lots of sun and an annual temperature of above 12 degrees centigrade. They live in gardens, near streams, canals, at the edges of cultivated land and sometimes in villages. They breed mainly in flooded fields such as cultivated fields, but also in ponds. They are found sometimes near artificial waterways.
Predators
Their main predators are birds, but also Natrix snake species often eat them during the breeding season.
They are found generally in southern France although absent from around over 700 m in altitude in the Pyrenees. They are found in Spanish Catalonia but absent over all of central, northern and south eastern Spain. They are found in south western Spain and southern Portugal. 
