Aquatic Treefrog vs Coastal Ragweed

Sarcohyla crassa compared with Ambrosia hispida

Key Differences

  • Aquatic Treefrog is Critically Endangered while Coastal Ragweed is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Aquatic Treefrog Coastal Ragweed
Kingdom Animalia (животные) Plantae (растения)
Phylum Chordata (хордовые) Magnoliophyta (магнолиофиты)
Class Amphibia (земноводные) Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order Anura (бесхвостые земноводные) Asterales (астроцветные)
Family Hylidae Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus Sarcohyla Ambrosia
Species Sarcohyla crassa Ambrosia hispida

Conservation Status

Aquatic Treefrog

CR — Critically Endangered

Coastal Ragweed

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Aquatic Treefrog Coastal Ragweed
Diet — —
Average Lifespan — —
Average Length — —
Average Weight — —

Habitat & Geographic Range

Aquatic Treefrog

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Nearctic and Neotropic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Mexico. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Coastal Ragweed

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found in Cuba.

Aquatic Treefrog

The Aquatic Treefrog (Sarcohyla crassa) is a species in the genus Sarcohyla. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Nearctic and Neo.

Coastal Ragweed

Coastal ragweed (Ambrosia hispida) is a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae, native to the coastal dunes, sandy beaches, and cays of Cuba, the Bahamas, and the wider Caribbean region. It grows in pioneer beach and dune vegetation, often forming spreading colonies that help stabilise loose coastal sands. Like other members of the genus Ambrosia, it bears inconspicuous greenish-white flowers arranged in racemes; male flower heads produce wind-dispersed pollen that can trigger allergic rhinitis in sensitive individuals. The deeply lobed, hispid leaves are adapted to reflect intense solar radiation and tolerate salt spray. Coastal ragweed plays an ecological role in early dune succession, binding sand and enabling other plant species to establish. The genus is widespread globally, with several Ambrosia species considered noxious weeds in agricultural settings, though Ambrosia hispida is restricted to its native Caribbean coastal range. The IUCN assesses it as Least Concern, reflecting adequate population size across its Caribbean coastal distribution. Pressure from coastal development and tourism infrastructure poses a localised threat to dune communities it inhabits.

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