The red-eyed tree frog begins its life as a tadpole in ponds and relies on water throughout its life to keep its skin moist. These frogs are skilled climbers with specialized footpads, enabling them to cling to leaves in the rainforest canopy during the day and hunt for insects at night.
- The scientific name for the red-eyed tree frog is Agalychnis callidryas. -If the nocturnal frog is approached while asleep during the day, its suddenly open eyes will momentarily paralyze the predator, providing the frog with a few seconds to escape. -According to their mood, red-eyed tree frogs can even become a dark green or reddish-brown color. -Male red-eyed tree frogs can grow up to two inches in length and females can grow up to three inches.
Their Life...
As with other amphibians, red-eyed tree frogs start life as tadpoles in temporary or permanent ponds. As adult frogs, they remain dependent on water to keep their skin moist, staying close to water sources such as rivers found in humid lowland rainforests. Adept climbers, red-eyed tree frogs have cup-like footpads that enable them to spend their days clinging to leaves in the rainforest canopy, and their nights hunting for insects and smaller frogs.
What do they eat?
Red-eyed tree frogs are carnivores, feeding mostly on insects. They usually eat insects such as crickets, flies, grasshoppers and moths. Although sometimes, they will even eat smaller frogs. For tadpoles, fruit flies and pinhead crickets are the meals of choice.
Their Physical Traits...
Where?
The Red-Eyed Tree Frog can be found in the areas of Mexico, through Central America to Columbia.
About...
The red-eyed tree frog is an amphibian. Not surprisingly, the world’s amphibian population has experienced a decline in recent years; research indicates that factors include chemical contamination from pesticide use, acid rain, and fertilizers, the introduction of foreign predators, and increased UV-B exposure from a weakened ozone layer that may damage fragile eggs. Though the red-eyed tree frog itself is not endangered, its rainforest home is under constant threat.
