Today we’re looking at another figure from the Frog & Toad Friends Set and it’s actually the one that turned me onto this set in the first place. It’s the hourglass treefrog (Dendropsophus ebraccatus) and I was introduced to this figure via one of Saarlooswolfhound’s collection/acquisition posts. I was immediately taken by this adorable treefrog, partly because it is depicted in the midst of calling, with the vocal sac inflated.
Blip Toys advertises this figure as a spurred treefrog but here’s the thing, it does not match any species that goes by that name. From what I can find, Taruga eques is known as both the spurred treefrog and montane hourglass treefrog. My guess is that at some point in production, common names got crossed, and the spurred treefrog (T. eques) that is otherwise known as the montane hourglass treefrog’s common name got accidently attached with the actual hourglass treefrog that this figure represents, D. ebraccatus. The hourglass treefrog is also the species that Toy Animal Wiki identifies this toy as.
The hourglass treefrog is a member of the Hylidae family and can be found in the humid, tropical forests of Central and South America, from Mexico to Ecuador. They breed between May-November in freshwater pools. Males attract females with a buzz call followed by a series of clicks. Females lay their eggs on the underside of leaves overhanging the water or on vegetation in the water itself. If laid out of the water the tadpoles drop into the water after hatching.
The Blip Toys hourglass treefrog has a head-body length of 2.5” (6.35 cm). Males of the species measure 0.94–1.06” (2.4-2.7 cm) while females are larger, reaching 1.18–1.34” (3.0-3.4 cm) which means the toy is larger than life-sized. The figure is positioned low to the ground with the left hindlimb stretched out behind it, as if the frog were scaling a vertical surface. With its inflated throat sac the figure clearly represents a male.
The figure is detailed with a fine, pitted texture, and mostly smooth underside that should be granular. The figure appears acceptably accurate to the species with a short, rounded face, large eyes, head wider than the body, large forelimbs, partial webbing, and digits ending in toe discs. There are four digits on both the forelimbs and hindlimbs but the hindlimbs should have five.
The figure is painted orange along the back with a yellow underside and blotches along the back and limbs. The exact coloration and distribution of the blotches can vary in life but often creates an hourglass-like pattern along the back, hence the name. There’s somewhat of an hourglass pattern here. There are no blotches on the thighs, which is accurate to the species. The hourglass treefrog is also known as the pantless frog because of this feature. The eyes are brown with black, horizontal pupils, and are ringed in black. There’s a dark wash over the figure that makes it appear kind of dirty. I think I would have preferred it if there was no wash. The paintjob is not as complex as it would be in life but it’s adequate.
The Blip Toys hourglass treefrog is the only figure of its genus and one of the few frog toys I’ve seen depicted with the throat sac inflated. In addition, it’s also acceptably accurate and undeniably cute. Highly recommended, and I would say that along with the previously reviewed European green toad it’s the only must-have frog in the set, as the other two are well represented by other, more easily obtainable figures.
