Red-Eyed Tree Frog
The red-eyed tree frog flashes its brightly colored body parts when startled. It sleeps by day with its eyes closed and body markings covered, stuck to leaf-bottoms.
Many scientists believe the red-eyed tree frog developed its vivid scarlet peepers to shock predators into at least briefly questioning their meal choice.
These iconic rain-forest amphibians sleep by day stuck to leaf-bottoms with their eyes closed and body markings covered. When disturbed, they flash their bulging red eyes and reveal their huge, webbed orange feet and bright blue-and-yellow flanks. This technique, called startle coloration, may give a bird or snake pause, offering a precious instant for the frog to spring to safety.
Their neon-green bodies may play a similar role in thwarting predators. Many of the animals that eat red-eyed tree frogs are nocturnal hunters that use keen eyesight to find prey. The shocking colors of this frog may over-stimulate a predator's eyes, creating a confusing ghost image that remains behind as the frog jumps away.
Red-eyed tree frogs, despite their conspicuous coloration, are not venomous. They are found in tropical lowlands from southern Mexico, throughout Central America, and in northern South America. Nocturnal carnivores, they hide in the rain forest canopy and ambush crickets, flies, and moths with their long, sticky tongues.
Red-eyed tree frogs are not endangered. But their habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate, and their highly recognizable image is often used to promote the cause of saving the world's rain forests.
Fast Facts Type: Amphibian
Diet: Carnivore
Average life span in the wild: 5 years
Size: 1.5 to 2.75 in (4 to 7 cm)
Group name: Army
Did you know? The red-eyed tree frog is also called the red-eyed leaf frog.
Size relative to a tea cup:
Many scientists believe the red-eyed tree frog developed its vivid scarlet peepers to shock predators into at least briefly questioning their meal choice.
These iconic rain-forest amphibians sleep by day stuck to leaf-bottoms with their eyes closed and body markings covered. When disturbed, they flash their bulging red eyes and reveal their huge, webbed orange feet and bright blue-and-yellow flanks. This technique, called startle coloration, may give a bird or snake pause, offering a precious instant for the frog to spring to safety.
Their neon-green bodies may play a similar role in thwarting predators. Many of the animals that eat red-eyed tree frogs are nocturnal hunters that use keen eyesight to find prey. The shocking colors of this frog may over-stimulate a predator's eyes, creating a confusing ghost image that remains behind as the frog jumps away.
Red-eyed tree frogs, despite their conspicuous coloration, are not venomous. They are found in tropical lowlands from southern Mexico, throughout Central America, and in northern South America. Nocturnal carnivores, they hide in the rain forest canopy and ambush crickets, flies, and moths with their long, sticky tongues.
Red-eyed tree frogs are not endangered. But their habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate, and their highly recognizable image is often used to promote the cause of saving the world's rain forests.
Fast Facts Type: Amphibian
Diet: Carnivore
Average life span in the wild: 5 years
Size: 1.5 to 2.75 in (4 to 7 cm)
Group name: Army
Did you know? The red-eyed tree frog is also called the red-eyed leaf frog.
Size relative to a tea cup:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/red-eyed-tree-frog/
Located
The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is located in Southern Mexico, Central
America including but not limited to Costa Rica, Honduras and
Panama, and northern South America.
Diet
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs are carnivorous and eat mostly insects,
including crickets. They will also feed on other smaller frogs.
Habitat
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs inhabit lowland rainforest areas near
ponds, streams and rivers. The Red-Eyed Tree Frog will be
found near water sources that its offspring, tadpoles, will need to
survive.
Size and Description
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs will grow to be 2 cm (males) and 3 -4 cm
(females) in length. The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is well known for
its bulging red eyes and beautiful blue streaks and orange toes.
When the Tree Frog sleeps it hides its sharp colors, but if it
runs from a predator the bright colors may confuse or disinterest
the predator. Like many Tree Frogs, the Red-Eyed Tree Frog
has suction cups on its toes that enable it to climb trees and on
leaves.
Reproduction
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs will lay clutches of eggs on the underside
of leaves that are standing above a water source. When the
eggs hatch the fluid that was inside the eggs assist in washing
the tadpoles down into the water.
http://www.rainforestanimals.net/rainforestanimal/redeyedtreefrog.html
The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is located in Southern Mexico, Central
America including but not limited to Costa Rica, Honduras and
Panama, and northern South America.
Diet
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs are carnivorous and eat mostly insects,
including crickets. They will also feed on other smaller frogs.
Habitat
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs inhabit lowland rainforest areas near
ponds, streams and rivers. The Red-Eyed Tree Frog will be
found near water sources that its offspring, tadpoles, will need to
survive.
Size and Description
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs will grow to be 2 cm (males) and 3 -4 cm
(females) in length. The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is well known for
its bulging red eyes and beautiful blue streaks and orange toes.
When the Tree Frog sleeps it hides its sharp colors, but if it
runs from a predator the bright colors may confuse or disinterest
the predator. Like many Tree Frogs, the Red-Eyed Tree Frog
has suction cups on its toes that enable it to climb trees and on
leaves.
Reproduction
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs will lay clutches of eggs on the underside
of leaves that are standing above a water source. When the
eggs hatch the fluid that was inside the eggs assist in washing
the tadpoles down into the water.
http://www.rainforestanimals.net/rainforestanimal/redeyedtreefrog.html