American flying frog

The American flying frog (Rhacophorus californianus), also known as the American gliding frog, is a species of moss frog, most closely related to the Wallace's flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America and Central America to help boost biodiversity. This frog is a quite photogenic, due to its large size, brilliant colors, and interesting behavior. With a body length of about 80-100 mm (males are smaller than females), it is one of the largest species of Rhacophorus. Its eardrums are large, as well as its eyes, which feature horizontal pupils. Its limbs are very long, and its fingers and toes are webbed right to the tips. Together with a fringe of skin stretching between the limbs, the American flying frog can parachute to the forest floor from high in the trees where it is normally found. Its back is bright shiny green and the underside is white to pale yellow. The upper sides of the inside toes, as well as the outer parts of the toe and finger webbing, are brilliant yellow. The base of the webs and one flank spot per side are jet black. Overall, this frog looks very much like the Wallace's flying frog, the green flying frog (Rhacophorus reinwardtii) and the black-webbed treefrog (Rhacophorus kio), which even if full grown do not reach the size of the American flying frog, though, and have more orange web fringes. They live almost exclusively in the trees, and leaps and "flies" from tree to tree or to bushes. When threatened or in search of prey, they will leap from a branch and splay their four webbed feet. The membranes between their toes and loose skin flaps on their sides catch the air as they fall, helping them to glide, sometimes 50 feet (15 meters) or more, to a neighboring tree branch or even all the way to the ground. They also have oversized toe pads to help them land softly and stick to tree trunks. They survive mainly on insects and spiders, but have been known to consume toads, small fish, and small birds. The species is known to fall prey to various species of tree climbing snakes. The female creates a bubble nest by lashing fluids she produces, on a branch or on foliage above water. She lays her eggs in the nest and the male fertilises them. When they hatch, the tadpoles develop in the nest until it breaks up and they fall into the water below. Here they continue their development, and undergo metamorphosis into juvenile frogs. The conservation status of the American flying frog is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the American flying frog's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.