The Lowland Burrowing Tree Frog is a bit of an oddball—in the best way possible. Even though it’s called a “tree frog,” it actually spends a lot of its time underground. Yep, this little amphibian is both a burrower and a climber, which makes it pretty unique among its frog cousins. It’s not very well known in the United States, but it has some fascinating survival skills that are worth getting to know.
Size & Physical Appearance
This is a small to medium-sized frog, usually around 1.5 to 2.5 inches long. It has a chunky body and a short snout. One way to recognize it is by its smooth, olive to light brown skin that often blends right into the dusty or sandy landscapes it likes to burrow in. Some individuals have faint darker markings or patterns on their backs, but nothing too flashy.
Their undersides are usually pale or grayish white. Males are typically a bit smaller and may have a darker throat due to their vocal sac. Juveniles tend to look like miniature versions of the adults, but they’re even better at hiding thanks to their muted colors.
Habitat and Range
In the United States, the Lowland Burrowing Tree Frog is found in southern Arizona and sometimes into southwestern New Mexico. Most of its range is actually in Mexico, where it’s more common, especially in arid and semi-arid lowlands.
True to its name, it prefers lowland habitats—open woodlands, grasslands, thorn scrub, and desert edges. The key to this frog’s lifestyle is soil. It looks for areas with loose, sandy or loamy ground where it can easily dig burrows to escape heat and dryness.
During dry spells, they stay underground in a state of dormancy, sometimes for months. But when summer rains come, they emerge quickly to feed and breed in temporary pools and roadside ditches.
Diet
These frogs are insectivores, which means they mainly eat bugs. Their diet in the wild tends to include ants, termites, beetles, and small spiders. Because they spend so much time underground or under cover, they take advantage of any food source that wanders close enough.
One particularly interesting thing: they’re considered opportunistic feeders, so they’ll chow down on just about any small invertebrate that fits in their mouth.
Lifespan
In the wild, the Lowland Burrowing Tree Frog likely lives around 3 to 5 years, though there’s limited data on that since they’re hard to observe most of the year. In captivity, with proper care, they can live a bit longer—close to 6 years in some cases.
Identification Tips
This frog can be tricky to spot, and when you do, you might mistake it for one of a few other desert-dwelling frogs and toads. Here’s how to tell it apart:
- Skin texture: While many desert toads, like the Sonoran Desert Toad, have bumpy, warty skin, the Lowland Burrowing Tree Frog’s skin is smooth and moist-looking.
- Eyes and head: It has big, prominent eyes and a rounded snout. When viewed close-up, its facial features are more “frog-like” compared to the broader heads of large toads.
- Climbing pads: Unlike toads, this species has small toe pads, used for climbing—although it doesn’t climb nearly as much as other tree frogs do.
If you’re in the southwestern U.S. during a summer rainstorm, check shallow pools or roadside puddles—they may suddenly appear in large numbers to breed.
Fun Fact
Despite being called a tree frog, this species spends most of its life underground. It burrows backwards using its powerful hind legs and can disappear completely under the surface in seconds. It’s one of the few tree frogs with this burrowing behavior, which makes it incredibly well adapted to desert life.
In Summary
The Lowland Burrowing Tree Frog is a fascinating little creature that thrives in some pretty harsh environments. It may be easy to overlook most of the year, but it plays a unique role in desert ecosystems. Whether you’re a student learning about regional wildlife or a naturalist hoping to spot something rare during monsoon season, this summer bloomer is a remarkable find. Keep your eyes (and ears) open after a good rain—you just might catch it in action.