Serbia

*Scott No:
Date of Issue:  November 2023
Set:  Protected Animal Species
Species:  European tree frog (Hyla arborea)

From Serbian Post:
Amphibians (Amphibia) are the oldest representatives of terrestrial vertebrates and form a ”transition” between fish and true terrestrial vertebrates. This group of animals includes various species of frogs, salamanders, newts and related animals. 14 species of frogs and eight species of tailed amphibians live in Serbia, of which 18 species are strictly protected.

European tree frog (Hyla arborea) also known as ”gatalinka” is a tailless amphibian whose color varies depending on the coloration of its surroundings, and because of that, it blends in perfectly in the environment where it lives. Males, smaller and lighter than females, have an internal inflatable vocal sac to amplify the sound, and the throat bulges out a lot during sound production. They are mostly light green in color, and their belly is usually white. Although they do not avoid daylight, they are most active in the evening hours. It's folk name gatalinka comes from the belief that it is capable of predicting (”gata”), what the weather will be like.