Chapa bug-eyed frogs
Key Facts
Scientific name: Theloderma bicolor
Range: Northern Vietnam and southern China
Habitat: Forests and inland wetlands
Diet: Tadpoles are omnivorous, adults are carnivorous
Average size: 3cm long
Life span: Atleast 10 years
IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Chapa bug-eyed frogs are from northern Vietnam and southern China, and as an arboreal (tree-dwelling) frog, this species spends most of their time on the leaves, deadwood and lichen-covered rocks of their forested habitats.
Chapa bug-eyed frogs' bumpy texture and green colouration allows individuals to camouflauge seamlessly amongst their mossy forested surroundings. This is called cryptic colouration, and all frogs of the genus "Theloderma" use this to their advantage as a defense mechanism to hide from their predators. For this reason, these small amphibians are otherwise known as "mini mossy frogs"
As amphibians, frogs are very sensitive to small environmental changes and are important indicator species (species whose health reveal information abut the health of their surrounding environements)
Chapa bug-eyed frogs have been known to breed in water-filled tree cavities, laying their frogspawn on the walls of the cavity in clusters of up to five eggs.
This species will role themselves into a ball once touched or interfered with to defend themselves from predation (being eaten by another animal) whilst playing dead.
Chapa bug-eyed frogs are of ‘Least Concern’ according to the IUCN Red List. However, their population is decreasing as they face a variety of threats such as:
Habitat loss: As chapa bug-eyed frogs are an arboreal species, they are impacted by deforestation designed to create space for large agricultural and hydroelectric developments
International pet trade: Wild collection for the international pet trade poses a threat to this species. When there are less individuals found in-situ (in the wild), remaining individuals have less opportunities ton produce stable, healthy populations of their species
-
![362277039 664600909026309 8369226469419348221 N]()
What we're doing...
Specialist care: Amphibians require specialist care and our expert team of animal keepers are able to provide our Chapa bug-eyed frogs with the ideal conditions they need to survive and thrive here at Twycross Zoo
Education: Enlightening our visitors and the general public about Chapa bug-eyed frogs allows us to discuss the threats they face and raise awareness for the impacts of the international pet trade and the knock-on effect that changing surrounding habitats has on this species and many more facing similar threats
-
![Pg 000222764 Dxo (1)]()
How you can help?
By being a conscious consumer of products sourced from forests, we can all make a difference in reducing habitat loss for species such as Chapa bug-eyed frogs. By ensuring that paper or wooden products are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, buyers can be assured that product has met vigorous standards and hasn’t harmed the forest it was sourced from.
