In nature, camouflage can be a matter of life and death. The ability to blend into one's environment is a crucial survival tactic for both predators and prey animals. For hunters, being unnoticeable helps them capture their victim much more easily and for the hunted one, it increases its chances of being undetected by the predator. Consequently, there are many oddly-colored animals out there who cannot be easily spotted by just anyone. One of those camouflage experts is Theloderma corticale, more commonly known as the Vietnamese mossy frog. This species of frogs got their name from their appearance. The unique patterns and colors on their skin make them look like clumps of moss growing on rocks. This very effective camouflage allows the frogs to blend into their muddy and mossy environment with ease.
In addition to their unique skin, Vietnamese mossy frogs can be recognized by their large sticky pads on their toes that help them to move in their environment, as well as their soft underbelly. Mossy frogs are about 61 mm (2.4 in) in size, but females are usually larger than males and can reach sizes of 8–9 cm (3.1–3.5 in). Their natural habitats are primarily evergreen rainforests and subtropical forests across southern Asia. However, being a common contender for the international pet trade, these frogs can be encountered all over the world at the zoo or kept as pets.
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