Paul Harrison · CC BY-SA 4.0Waxy monkey tree frog
Phyllomedusa sauvagii
A Chaco frog that walks like a monkey and “waxes” its skin to avoid drying out.
What it is
A slow-moving green tree frog, it hardly ever jumps, instead walking along branches hand over hand. To survive the Chaco's dry heat, it coats its skin with a waxy secretion that reduces water loss. It lays its eggs on leaves folded over puddles, and the tadpoles drop into the water when they hatch.
Did you know…?
It is one of the few amphibians that uses a “sunscreen” against drying out. It spreads the wax with its legs, as if applying lotion.
Where
The Dry and Humid Chaco, in shrubs near tajamares (cattle ponds) and puddles. Seen at night after summer rains.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 2 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.