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 its name from its appearance. The unique patterns and colors on these cool frogs' skin make them look like clumps of moss growing on rocks. This very effective camouflage allows the mossy frogs to blend into their muddy and mossy environment with ease.
Now for some interesting frog facts - in addition to their unique skin, Vietnamese mossy frogs can be recognized by 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). These unusual frogs live in evergreen rainforests and subtropical forests across southern Asia. However, being a common contender for the international pet trade, these rare frogs can be encountered all over the world at the zoo or kept as pets.
