Einstein and Newton
White's tree frogs
Pelodryas caerulea
Born:
2023
North and East Australia
Native range:
My story:
Our White’s tree frogs are wonderfully comical, inquisitive little characters. During the day, they tuck themselves away inside hollow branches, often leaving nothing visible but the occasional nose or pair of eyes. As evening arrives, their little green heads begin appearing at the entrances before they climb down to visit their pond and enthusiastically chase insects around their enclosure.
They are also surprisingly observant. They regularly cling to the glass doors and peer out while James works in the animal house, seemingly determined not to miss anything. They are particularly fond of joining in with noisy jobs—the moment the hoover starts, they often begin chirping too, as though they are trying to compete with it!
DId you know?
Despite being green, the White’s tree frog was originally given a scientific name meaning “blue”. The preserved specimen examined by scientists had lost its yellow colouring, leaving it looking blue instead. This historical mix-up is still preserved in the name caerulea, the Latin word for blue!