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What Kinds of Frogs Are in the Rain Forest?

Rain forests are ideal habitats for frogs, which need to keep their permeable skin moist. Poison dart frogs are well known in the rain forests of South and Central Americas. Most rain forest frogs are brightly colored. The poison dart frogs use their vivid coloration to ward off would-be predators, while tree frogs make use of color for camouflage. Tree frogs also possess disks under each toe, which ensure their sure footed movement through the foliage in the rain forests.

Red-eyed Tree Frog
- This green frog inhabits tropical forests from southern Mexico to Central America. The red-eyed frog is equipped with large toe pads, which assist in moving about among the leaves in the tropical forest environment. The vivid red eyes of this little amphibian double as a survival feature. Red-eyed tree frogs are mainly nocturnal and rest during the daylight hours on the underside of leaves. Once disturbed by a potential predator, the frog's eyes pop open and the sudden appearance of red among the green leaves, is designed to startle the predator sufficiently for the frog to escape.
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog
- This attractive frog inhabits the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, where it preys on termites and ants. Chemicals contained in the body of these insects, allow the frog to synthesize its poison. The strawberry poison dart frog possesses a vivid red head, with a dark body that is covered in black spots. The legs of this strikingly colored amphibian are bright blue. The immediately noticeable colors of the strawberry poison dart frog function as a warning to potential predators.
Harlequin Frogs
- Harlequin frogs inhabit the tropical forests in southwest and central South America. The harlequin frog population is in decline due to deforestation, their capture for the pet market and as a result of a chytrid fungal infection. These rain forest frogs have a dark background coloration of brown or black. This background color is covered with a combination of blue, red, green, orange and yellow streaks and spots.
Goliath Frog
- These huge frogs inhabit rainforest in the Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The Goliath frog seeks shelter between large moss-covered rocks that lie on the bed of fast-flowing rivers in western African rainforests. This greenish brown frog does not possess a vocal sac. Goliath frogs feed mainly on freshwater crabs, but will prey on other frog species and insects. These frogs are frequently captured for the pet trade and are eaten by the locals. Deforestation and dam construction continues to threaten this species.

Animals & Science