Can you guys believe it is the middle of the week already? I can’t, especially since I went through the entire day thinking it was Monday. The middle of the week Wild Fact will be a good one since we are going to explore the world of the Striped Rocket Frog. With a name like that, you know it is going to be a fun animal. To get up close and personal with this frog we are heading to Australia where they are found on the mainland (well, mainland for a big island) as well as the smaller islands surrounding it.
The Striped Rocket Frog gets its name from their amazing agility as well as their streamlined body. Oh and I am guessing the “Striped” part is due to the fact they have two folds of skin running down their backs which give them the striped appearance. Even though the Striped Rocket Frog is a “tree frog” you can usually find them hanging out on the ground in wetlands including swamps, flooded plains and ponds. In fact they are not actually able to climb trees so I am sure they get made fun of from all the other tree frogs.
I mentioned that the “Rocket” part of their name comes from their impressive agility and streamlined nature. This is true and both of these traits come in handy while they are swimming or jumping. The Striped Rocket Frog has incredibly strong legs and are able to jump vast distances compared to their size. Just so you know this frog only grows to about 5.5 cm (2.1″) long so their idea of “vast distances” is probably not the same as ours. It is all about perception!
Like most frogs the Rocket Frog is a carnivore that uses its long tongue to feed on moths, spiders, worms and other invertebrates. While they are out hunting this tree frog needs to be wary about potential predators due to their small size. In fact they can be attacked from any direction since they make a scrumptious meal for flying animals such as birds and bats. They are also favoured by land-dwelling creatures such as foxes and cats. If that weren’t bad enough they are also at threat in the water by fish and other frogs. Life sure is tough when you are a tiny tree frog.
That just about does it for Wednesday’s Striped Rocket Frog Fact. I hope you enjoyed learning about this frog as much as I enjoyed writing about them. Have a great day!
