The Red Eyed Tree Frog is a very unique and easily recognised species of frog that is native to Central America.
These frogs can also be found in the Northern parts of South America where they like to live in forested areas.
They have an alien like appearance with their bright green coloration, bulging red eyes and excessively long limbs.
Red Eyed Tree Frog Taxonomy
The Red Eyed Tree Frog belongs to the Hylidae family of frogs. The Hylidae family is a wide-ranging family of Tree Frogs.
However, while this family is known as the ‘Tree Frog’ family, it is a very diverse family of frogs, many of which are terrestrial or semi-aquatic as opposed to arboreal.
Their distribution extends throughout the Americas, Europe, North Africa, Asia and Australia.
The genus that the Red Eyed Tree Frog belongs to is called Agalychnis. The species in this genus are native to Central America and the Northern parts of South America.
There are currently 13 recognised species in this genus including the Blue Sided Leaf Frog, the Mexican Leaf Frog and the Gliding Leaf Frog.
The scientific name for the Red Eyed Tree Frog is Agalychnis callidryas and there are currently no recognised sub-species.
The species was first described in 1862 by an American herpetologist named Edward Drinker Cope.
Red Eyed Tree Frog Description
The Red Eyed Tree Frog is an arboreal frog with long limbs and webbed toes, making it perfectly designed for life in the canopy.
It is an easily recognizable species due to its bright green coloration, bulging red eyes and long limbs.
Females are typically larger than males, growing to around 3 inches in length while males typically max out at around 2 inches.
Their bellies are typically cream in color but can sometimes have a blueish tint to it. They can also have blue and yellow stripes on their sides.
They have bright orange feet with long beady toes. These toes act as ‘suction cups’ to help the frog stick to almost any surface.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Red Eyed Tree Frog is native to many parts of Central America. They can also be found in a small part of Northern South America.
These amazing looking frogs can be found in places such as El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
They can also be found in a small part of North Western Colombia, close to the Panama border.
The Red Eyed Tree Frog likes to live in inland forests and wetlands where there is plenty of foliage and moisture.
These frogs can be found in both tropical rainforest habitats and at higher altitudes in mountainous forests.
Red Eyed Tree Frog Behaviour
The Red Eyed Tree Frog is an arboreal species of frog that will spend the majority of their time in trees and on other vegetation.
These frogs blend into their surroundings expertly and can be very difficult to see. They will stick to the underside of leaves and close their eyes, hiding their bright red eyes.
They primarily feed on a variety of insects including flies, grasshoppers, crickets, moths and a variety of other prey.
However, during the tadpole phase, these frogs will typically feed on algae and plankton, although they are also known to eat carrion when the opportunity arises.
They are a nocturnal species meaning they are primarily active a night and will sleep during the day, typically on the underside of a leaf or hidden behind other kinds of vegetation.
These frogs will even lay their eggs on the underside of leaves that are overhanging a water source. As the tadpole’s hatch, they will drop into the body of water.