Physical Features
Red-eyed tree frogs usually measure between 1 1/2 and 3 inches in length. Most of the body is bright green although the shade of green can vary with mood. These frogs have white bellies, and their sides are patterned with blue and cream markings. The color of their feet usually ranges from orange to red. Red-eyed tree frogs have suckers on the ends of their toes which enable them to climb and cling to vegetation effectively. One of the most noticeable features of the re-eyed tree frog is its large red eyes. These frogs have three eyelids on each eye. This membrane protects the eye without limiting the frog's eyesight.
Habits
The carnivorous diet of the red-eyed tree frog is varied. It is mainly made up of a range of insects such as flies, crickets and grasshoppers, but they will eat almost any animal that is small enough for them to swallow. Red-eyed tree frogs also eat other frogs. They are often found in the rainforest canopy of humid rainforests and near bodies of water as they rely on external sources to regulate the moisture level of their skin. It is in the canopy layer of the rainforest that these frogs hunt for prey at night. The frog catches its food by projecting its long tongue, which sticks to the prey; the tongue and unlucky creature are then drawn into the frog's mouth.
Threats and Defence Mechanisms
The red-eyed tree frog is prey to other animals in the rainforest. Its physical appearance is the main defense mechanism of this nonvenomous frog. Because red-eyed tree frogs are nocturnal, they are vulnerable to predators when they are asleep in the daytime. While they are asleep on the underside of leaves, their eyes are covered with green eyelids. When they sense danger, the frogs flash their bright red eyes, startling their enemy and gaining an opportunity of escape. As well as startling a predator, the brightly colored markings on the red-eyed tree frog's skin can be displayed, confusing an enemy with the bright colors which leave behind a ghost image, a type of echo of an original image that stays behind once the original object has moved away. Other threats to this species that it cannot protect itself from include acid rain, deforestation and increased exposure to ultraviolet rays as a result of damage to the ozone layer.
Life Cycle
Mating takes place between October and March. One at a time, the female releases eggs which are individually fertilized by the male frog. This takes place on a leaf above a body of water. When the eggs hatch after a few days, tadpoles drop into the water below. Once these tadpoles have matured, they leave the water as froglets. The average lifespan of a red-eyed tree frog in the rainforest is around five years.