>>from what i have read about them, they pretty much are green tree frogs - just in a different color. so i suppose that means they could interbreed.>>

They are actually very different species, not closely related at all. They are about as different as bullfrogs and American toads are to each other. The golden treefrogs used to be called Rhacophorus leucomystax, but they are now called Polypedates leucomystax, and they belong to the family Rhacophoridae, found only in Asia. The green treefrog is Hyla cinerea, and it belongs in the family Hylidae. Hylid frogs are closely related to Bufonids, or true toads, whereas rhacophorid frogs are closely related to Ranids, or pond frogs like the leopard frog or bullfrog. It is extremely unlikely that the green treefrog and golden treefrog will interbreed. Frogs choose mates based on mating calls, and different species have different mating calls. Further, the golden treefrog will lay eggs in foam nests on land whereas the green treefrog lays eggs in the water. So even if they pair up their different instinctive mating behaviors will prevent successful breeding. Even if a scientist were to artificially fertilize the eggs of one species with sperms of another, their genetic differences may prevent the embryos from developing into froglets. And even if hybrids are successfully produced, they may in all likelihood be infertile. There are many barriers to interbreeding that are not easily crossed.

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Show Entire Thread ]