Red-eyed Treefrog

About the Red-eyed Treefrog

The red-eyed tree frog or red-eyed leaf frog (Agalychnis callidryas) is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae native to forests of Central America and northwestern South America. One of the most recognizable frog species, A. callidryas is known for its vibrant coloration, having a bright green body with blue and yellow stripes on the side, a white underside, bright red- to orange-colored feet, and its namesake bright red eyes. Despite these bright colors, the red-eyed tree frog is not poisonous like many other brightly colored amphibians; rather, the colors likely provide camouflage against the greenery of the surrounding jungle, and may also serve to provoke the startle reflex to dissuade predators and allow the frog time to escape.

Like all the species in its genus, A. callidryas is arboreal, possessing long limbs and webbed toes, and is nocturnal, when it mostly hunts for insects. The males of this species are smaller than the females, and they display non-random mating patterns which suggest female choice for specific types of male. They mate and reproduce near ponds, and are therefore found in humid lowlands, especially tropical forests. The embryos of this species are able to respond to approaching predators by hatching early, dropping into the water to escape. Wikipedia →