Kingdom Animalia Order Anura Genus Hyla Higher classification Hyla | Phylum Chordata Family Hylidae Scientific name Hyla suweonensis Rank Species | |
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Similar Frog, Amphibians, Japanese tree frog, Hyla, Seoul frog |
The Suweon tree frog, also spelled Suwon treefrog (Hyla suweonensis recently modified to Dryophytes suweonensis) is a species of tree frog found in western South Korea, probably from the Imjin River to the Mangyeong River, south of Iksan. Its distribution and population have been assessed to be below 800 individuals and the status of the species has been updated as Endangered by the IUCN.
The Suweon tree frog and the Japanese tree frog, which is also found in the same region, are the only two hylid species found on the Korean Peninsula. Factors distinguishing them include the frequency of the call, calling behavior, webbing between the toes and the angle of the line between eyes and nostrils. The type locality for the Suweon tree frog is a rice paddy near the Office of Rural Development in Suwon. It has a lifestyle similar to the Japanese tree frog, breeding in rice paddies. The species is not known to breed at any natural site, and microhabitat segregation differentiate them from the Japanese tree frog. The species is evolutionary significant due to its unusual ZW karyotype.
The Suweon tree frog is listed as an "Endangered category I species" in Korea on basis of its limited distribution range and small population size. However, this frog has also been listed as an invasive species in the United States.