Red-Eyed Tree Frogs

A rain forest teems with life—birds squawk, monkeys chatter, snakes slither, and frogs croak. The warm air is heavy with moisture. Leaves on bushes and trees sag, weighed down by droplets of water.

One leaf has a special treasure. A female red-eyed tree frog has laid a batch of eggs on it. She chose the spot carefully—the leaf hangs over a pond, for a special reason.

When the eggs are ready to hatch, which happens at the same time in one batch of eggs, the tadpoles inside start swirling around vigorously. The activity breaks each egg open, releasing the little tadpoles. All the tadpoles wash down the leaf in a little stream of moisture from the hatching eggs, and plop! plop! plop! They land in the pond below.

Feeding on tiny insects, the tadpoles live in the water they fell into until they metamorphose, or develop, into little brown froglets. At this point they leave the water and climb up nearby trees to live as tree frogs. By the time they’re adults, the frogs have turned a striking green, with blue-and-yellow striped sides, orange or red feet, a flash of blue on their thighs, and big red eyes.

Being green helps the red-eyed tree frog blend in with tree leaves. This keeps it hidden from both the insects it eats and the predators that want to eat it. Red-eyed tree frogs are nocturnal, or active at night. During the day they rest. When one of these tree frogs sits still on a green leaf, legs tucked in and eyes shut, it is practically invisible.

So why do the frogs have brightly colored bodies and huge red eyes? The bright colors are a defense mechanism. If the green camouflage fails and a predator spots a sleeping frog, it swoops in for what it thinks will be a tasty meal. But the awakened frog’s eyes pop open, revealing their startling bright red color! Also, when the frog rushes to get away, it untucks its brightly colored legs.

The predator is often so surprised by these sudden flashes of color that it is momentarily confused and hesitates. And while it does, the frog has a split second to make its escape!

Text by Catherine D. Hughes

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