Red-eyed tree frogs are small frogs with green bodies, bright red eyes, blue thighs and orange toes that have suction pads on them to help them stick to trees. Their bright colors act as a defense mechanism known as “startle coloration.” Red-eyed tree frogs will sleep on leaves during the day and tuck in their legs so that only their green coloration is exposed. This allows them to camouflage in the leaves and when a predator approaches, they will quickly open their eyes and spread their legs to flash their bright red and blue colors. These sudden flashes of color often confuse and disorient predators and give red-eyed tree frogs a second to escape.

Male and female red-eyed tree frogs look similar but females are larger. Males grow to be about two inches in length while females grow up to three inches.

Red-eyed tree frogs are distributed from Mexico to Central America. Juvenile tadpoles live in ponds while adults live in the canopies of lowland rainforests. They are often found clinging to branches, undersides of leaves, and tree trunks. Red-eyed tree frogs need to keep their skin moisturized so they are always around bodies of water.

The red-eyed tree frog is a nocturnal carnivore that is active mainly during the night. These fascinating creatures have a diverse diet consisting primarily of bugs and insects. Some of their favorite meals include flies, grasshoppers, crickets, and moths. With their insatiable appetite, red-eyed tree frogs don’t shy away from consuming other smaller frogs if the opportunity arises.

When it comes to the diet of red-eyed tree frog tadpoles, their preferences are slightly different from their adult counterparts. Tadpoles usually opt for smaller prey, such as fruit flies and pinhead crickets. These tiny insects provide the necessary nutrients for the growing tadpoles as they develop into adult red-eyed tree frogs. This varied diet is a testament to the red-eyed tree frog’s adaptability and resourcefulness, enabling it to thrive in diverse environments.

Red-eyed tree frogs breed during the rainy season. Males attempt to attract females through loud croaking. Multiple males will gather in one area and display an act called quivering in which they stand off on all fours and often fight each other. When a female draws near, the males will fight for a position on her back until one lands straight and wraps his legs and arms around her stomach.

The process in which males latch onto the backs of females is known as amplexus and is observed in many different frog species. As females produce eggs, the males will try to fertilize them. Female red-eyed tree frogs lay clutches of 11-78 eggs on tree leaves that hang above water. When the eggs are ready to hatch, the tadpoles begin swimming around in a vigorous pattern which causes the eggs to burst. They are then dropped into the water below where they stay until they metamorphose into frogs. Juvenile red-eyed tree frogs are brown in color and turn green as they mature.

Red-eyed tree frogs act as good indicators of the health of the environment. If the environment isn’t healthy, frog populations are often the first to suffer.

Despite their bright coloration, red-eyed tree frogs are not poisonous.

A group of red-eyed tree frogs is called an army.