If a waterfall climbing contest was held in the Hainan tropical rainforest, the Hainan Torrent Frog would almost certainly win.

Small torrent frogs live near water sources. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

Ninja-like, the Hainan Torrent frog clings to steep, wet, and slick rock faces, completely unbothered by the powerful force of the water rushing past. The deep wisdom of nature is expressed in the story of the rainforest frog’s daily fight to survive.

The Hainan Torrent Frog, a National Class II protected species, clings to the rock surface like a ninja. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

Frog love ballads echo up and down the stream as males seek a mate. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

Hainan Torrent Frogs are endemic, or native, to Hainan. Their preferred habitat lies alongside swift, turbulent streams at altitudes of 80 to 850 meters above sea level. During the day, they rest quietly on sheer rock faces next to waterfalls. When startled, they jump like lightning, hiding in nearby rock crevices. How does such a small, fragile creature survive in this dangerous environment? The frogs have two ‘secret weapons’. Their webbed feet act as built-in anti-slip pads, and the suction cups at the end of each toe provide even more sticking power, making climbing wet, vertical, slippery rock faces a ‘walk in the park’ for these talented frogs. They are also masters of disguise. Their gray-brown, wart covered skin blends perfectly with the color and texture of the surrounding rocks, creating expert-level camouflage and rendering the creatures nearly invisible when motionless.

The Hainan Torrent Frog is unique to the island province. Their preferred habitat lies alongside swift, turbulent streams at altitudes of 80 to 850 meters above sea level. During the day, they rest quietly on sheer rock faces next to waterfalls. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

When night falls or breeding season arrives, the rainforest nearby the streams turns into a frog ‘concert arena’. From April through August, male frogs sing loud, passionate love ballads as they attempt to woo a mate. If you happen to be in the area at that time of year, take a close look at rock faces next to waterfalls. You might see small clusters of frog eggs tightly attached to the rocks. These areas have been chosen by loving torrent frog parents as ‘delivery rooms’ for their soon to hatch offspring.

Frog love ballads echo up and down the stream as males seek a mate. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

In rainforest streams and ponds, Dark-sided Chorus Frogs have also paired up and begun to breed. Higher up, on the abundant rainforest branches and leaves, Doria’s Tree Frogs have mastered the art of ‘aerial parenting’, laying their eggs on leaves above the water in order to cleverly avoid aquatic predators. After the female frog exudes a mucus, she rapidly kicks it into a foam, which the male frog fertilizes. Soon, the outer layer of foam hardens into a protective shell, turning the mass into a miniature ‘greenhouse’, maintaining the levels of humidity and temperature necessary for the eggs to hatch.

Doria’s Tree Frogs lay their eggs on leaves above the water, cleverly avoiding aquatic predators. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

A Hainan Frilled Tree Frog. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

Unlike torrent frogs, tree frogs are nocturnal. The skin color and texture of the Chinese Flying Frog, for example, match its habitat well, giving it an ‘invisibility cloak’ that it wears as it moves about in the branches and leaves of the rainforest trees.

Chinese Flying Frog. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

Hopping up rock faces, through waterfalls, and all the way up into the rainforest canopy, uniquely talented frogs occupy an important niche in Hainan’s ecosystem, serving both as an indicator species demonstrating the health of the environment as well as a vivid testament to the unparalleled creativity of nature.