The Red-eyed Treefrog

The Red-eyed Treefrog

“The Red-eyed Treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas) is an arboreal hylid native to Neotropical rainforests in Central America.

Red-eyed tree frogs, as their name states, have red eyes with vertically narrowed noses, a vibrant green body with yellow and blue vertically striped sides, and orange or yellow webbed feet and toes.

There is a great deal of regional variation in flank and thigh coloration. Although it has been suggested that A. callidryas' bright colors function as aposematic or signals, neither of these hypotheses have been confirmed. Males range from 2 (5.08 centimetres) to 2½ inches (6.35 centimetres), while female range from 2½ (6.35 centimetres) to 3 inches (7.62 centimetres) on average. Young frogs are typically brown in color and turn greener as they mature, although adult frogs can change their color slightly depending on mood and environment. Red-eyed tree frogs have soft, fragile skin on their stomach, and the skin on their back is thicker and rougher.

The red-eyed tree frog has three eyelids and sticky pads on its toes. Phyllomedusid tree frogs are arboreal animals, meaning they spend a majority of their life in trees, which also makes them great jumpers. This special eyelid helps to protect the frog’s sensitive eyes from a variety of dangers.  The frog also has little sucker pads on its toes, which help it stick to leaves and trees.  One other cool fact about the red-eyed tree frog is that it is nicknamed the "monkey frog” because of its great coordination.

Red-eyed tree frogs are not poisonous and rely on camouflage to protect themselves. During the day, they remain motionless, cover their blue sides with their back legs, tuck their bright feet under their stomach, and shut their red eyes. Thus, they appear almost completely green, and well hidden among the foliage”. – Wikipedia

Since the tree frog is nocturnal, meaning it is active at nighttime and sleeps during the day , it needs a way of protecting itself against predators during daylight hours.  If a predator surprises a sleeping tree frog, the frog opens its eyes, which startle and stop the predator just long enough for the frog to make an attempt to escape.  Its brightly colored body also helps it to avoid becoming a meal.  The skin of a red-eyed tree frog is bright green with splashes of blue and yellow on the belly and upper leg and red or orange on its feet.When the tree frog moves to get away, the blue, yellow,and red-orange flash at the predator, stunning it again for another few seconds allowing the frog to dodge harms way .

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