Green frog on velvet blue log

By Aaron Horrell

I found this beautiful color combination Sept. 18 under a lush hedge.

The frog is an American green tree frog.

It is common in Southeast Missouri, which is close to the northern edge of its range.

This one was large for the species, measuring nearly 3 inches from vent (not counting legs extended) to the tip of its nose.

The favored habitat for this small, slick-skinned frog that likes to climb on weeds is moist areas with relatively dense, bushy green vegetation.

You may find one near a pond on a cattail reed or maybe on the leaf of a seedling soft maple tree.

The blue-colored mold growing on the small log looks like someone painted thin blue paint on it.

The common name for this woodland mold is velvet-blue spread. It grows on moist dead wood.