How do adhesive toe disks help tree frogs climb?

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natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) — frog and toad The natterjack toad (*Bufo calamita*) lives in northern Europe.

Tree frogs, which belong to families such as Hylidae, possess specialized adhesive disks on the tips of their toes that assist them in climbing. These disks increase the contact area between the frog’s feet and the surface, which improves their grasping ability.12

While these structures are often described as functioning like suction cups, this specific mechanism has not yet been definitively demonstrated. By expanding the surface area of the digits, these disks allow the frogs to navigate effectively as they move from branch to branch or leaf to leaf.12