Artwork by Joshua Venturo
A small amphibian steps onto a bright green leaf. His gray body stands out against the green. A perfect target for predators. Very slowly, the gray fades out and is replaced with brownish, and then dark green. When the change is complete, he is very hard to spot on the leaf. He is green.
What is this small amphibian?
Treefrogs live in the eastern United States. The Common Gray Treefrog lives throughout the East, but the Green Treefrog can only be seen south of Pennsylvania. These two species can easily be differentiated because of the Green Treefrog’s light stripe on the side of its body, and the Gray Treefrog’s rough skin.
Treefrogs’ habitat is trees and bushes near water. The Green Treefrog is often asleep under leaves during the day.
Treefrogs prefer walking and climbing to jumping. The last joint of their toes is cartilage, which allows their foot to swivel backwards, forwards, and sideways while keeping their toepads on the surface they’re climbing. The toepads help them stick to a surface.
Just like the treefrog needs to change its skin to avoid danger, we need to change things to avoid sin. If there is anything you do that makes you tempted to sin, change your schedule and stop doing it!
Information from: Behler, John L., and F. Wayne King. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, 1979.