The Lemon Tree Frog of Cyprus
A Tiny Acrobat of the Night On warm spring evenings in Cyprus, a delicate chorus often rises from ponds, streams, and reedbeds. Hidden among leaves and branches, a small green frog is calling for a mate. This is the Lemon Tree Frog, Hyla savignyi, one of the island's most charming amphibians and the only tree frog found in Cyprus. The Frog That Climbs Trees Most people imagine frogs living on the ground or in water, but tree frogs are different. The Lemon Tree Frog belongs to the tree frog family, a group famous for their ability to climb vegetation using tiny adhesive pads on their fingers and toes. These natural "suction cups" allow them to cling to reeds, bushes, walls, and even smooth leaves. In Cyprus, this species shares the island with only two other native amphibians: the Cyprus Water Frog and the Cyprus Green Toad. Among them, the Lemon Tree Frog is undoubtedly the most agile climber. An Ancient Traveller Across the Eastern Mediterranean The story of this frog stretches back millions of years. Genetic studies suggest that the ancestors of Cyprus's tree frogs arrived from the nearby coasts of Anatolia and the Levant during the Pleistocene, roughly one million years ago. At that time Cyprus was already separated from the mainland by sea, meaning the species likely reached the island through remarkable overseas dispersal events…
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