Ever met a phytotelm breeder?
The Borneo level of the rainforest has some new inhabitants. Fourteen Orange Spotted Frogs (Nyctixalus pictus) are now living in the Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon kuhli) exhibit. These unique frogs can be very secretive and tend to hide on the backside of the leaves of various plants in the exhibit. If you’re lucky, you’ll see one out and about on your next visit.
Also known as Cinnamon Frogs or Peter’s Tree Frog, N. pictus are phytotelm breeders, which means their tadpoles develop in water accumulated in tree holes or other plant parts. Ours recently laid eggs while off display and three tadpoles are growing quickly. When they emerge from the water they will join their parents in the exhibit.
Also new to the exhibit are two young flying geckoes, one hatched in March and the other in June. Both are doing well on exhibit. They can be tricky to find. Not only do they camouflage perfectly on the tree, they are about half the size of the adults and are able to find many more hiding places.
