Red Eyed Tree Frog

Agalychnis callidryas

Amphibian

Transcript:

Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing red eyed tree frogs. These amphibians get their common name from their distinct and pronounced red eyes. Seems pretty obvious, right? Though their eyes don't always look this way. Red eyed tree frog tadpoles start with golden eyes that turn red a few weeks after they've metamorphosed into adults. It's believed these frogs use their bright red eyes to scare predators and make an escape. Red eyed tree frogs are nocturnal. This means they're most active during the night. Throughout the day, they rest on the underside of large leaves. If a predator comes across them, all the frog has to do is open its big, red eyes and the predator is startled for just long enough that the frog can hop away unscathed.

These frogs live from southern Mexico to the northern tip of South America. They're arboreal animals meaning they spend nearly all their time in trees. In fact, one of the only times they come down from the tree cover in their adult lives is for mating. Female red eyed tree frogs have to stay moist when they're mating because their eggs require a lot of water to hatch. Males call to females to let them know they're ready to mate. They sound like this: (audio) They may also fight each other by wrestling one another off a branch or by shaking the branch to wiggle each other off.

When a male is selected, he has to hold on tight. Like many frogs, female red eyed tree frogs are larger than males. Males reach about two inches (5cm) long while females can be three inches (7.6cm) in length. The male must cling to her while she hops around seeking the perfect spot to lay her eggs. During this time, she may travel down to the water on the forest floor so she has enough moisture to lay her eggs. While this happens, other males may try to knock the existing male off of her. It's not uncommon for red eyed tree frog eggs to have multiple fathers! Once she finds a spot the male fertilizes her eggs while she lays them. These are laid on a leaf overhanging water below. The tadpoles develop inside the eggs until the perfect time to hatch, which they can choose themselves if needed.

Red eyed tree frog tadpoles can tell if something is nearby like a snake slithering on their leaf, or a wasp landing on their nest. If the tadpoles inside sense danger they'll hatch early to avoid predators. Other animals that try to eat red eyed tree frog eggs and tadpoles include monkeys, flies, and aquatic spiders. It takes about a month for the tadpoles to mature and leave the water. Mating happens during the rainy season from May to October to facilitate the moisture needed for the red eyed tree frog young. On average, they can live to be five years old.

Like other tree frogs, red eyed tree frogs have discs on their toes to help the grip to surfaces. These, coupled with their long legs make them excellent climbers. They appear green in color with yellow and blue sides and orange feet, though they tuck most of these colors away while resting which helps them blend in. They can also change color from dark green to reddish brown. These frogs are carnivorous and eat insects and even other, smaller frogs!

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