Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas)

Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas)

Almost no other frog signifies the beauty of rain forests of Central America more as the Red-eyed tree frog. With their bright red eyes it is probably the most famous frog on earth and has become a worldwide symbol for the rain forest, instantly recognizable and appears on many posters and in numerous magazines.

Striking colourful

Their eyes aren’t the only things bright colored on the red-eyed tree frog. Their flanks are blue and yellow markings and their feet are often orange, sometimes they are red.

Those striking colors show as the frog is an adult, as a youngster they have orange eyes and no coloration on their flanks. Their green body can turn from bright green to dark green or even brown in just a few minutes.

This happens by the influence of temperature, mood or blending in with the surrounding.

Harmless defence

Unlike the bright colored dartfrogs, these frogs are not venomous and rely on camouflage to protect themselfs and use their bright colors as a defense mechanism.

Being green helps the red-eyed tree frog to blend in with tree leaves. It rests by day covering their blue sides with their back legs, tuck their bright feet under their stomachs, and shut their red eyes.

If their camouflage fails and a predator approach, the disturbed frog opens his eyes, revealing their startling bright red color! When the frog rushes to get away, it untucks its blue colored legs. The predator is often so surprised by these colors that it hesitates of eating the frog and this gives the frog extra time to jump away safely.

Nocturnal diners

Red-eyed tree frogs are nocturnal and hunt only at night, catching flies, bugs, crickets, and grasshoppers with their sticky long tongue. They have vertical pupils which help to see at night and respond quickly to changes in light.

Jumpy acrobats

The red-eyed tree frog can jump up to 20 times its own body length. Besides jumping these amazing flexible and well-coordinated frogs are skilled climbers and fast walkers.

As adults they live high up in the canopy of the rainforest but when observed in captivity you will often see them moving easily from branch to branch and leaf to leaf, while using their fingers almost like we do. Sometimes you will catch them in funny or challenging positions.

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