Category: Amphibians
The Red-eyed tree is an arboreal inhabitant of tropical forests from Mexico through Central America to Columbia. They are a charismatic, brightly colored frog, but able to virtually disappear on green foliage by tucking their legs and closing their bright red eyes. The female lays her eggs on a leaf over a pond or puddle. The eggs normally hatch in 6-10 days, but they are sensitive to the vibrations caused by predators, storms, or floods, and can hatch early in order to improve survival rates. This is an adaptation known as phenotypic plasticity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agalychnis_callidryas
http://www.lllreptile.com/info/library/animal-care-sheets/amphibians/-/red-eyed-tree-frogs/
Make sure you retract your eyes 30 times before swallowing!
It has long been known that Frogs retract their eyes and close them while eating, leading scientists to suspect that frogs use their eyes to help them swallow. This suspicion was finally confirmed in 2004, when the northern leopard frog was observed by scientists retracting its eyes while swallowing crickets, actually using them to help push the food toward its esophagus!
Learn more >>
Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA