Class: Amphibia

Order: Anura

Scientific Name: Agalychnis callidryas

Range: Central Mexico to Guatemala

Habitat: Humid forest

Diet: Wild: Insects
Zoo: Crickets

Gestation: Incubation: About 45 days from tadpole to froglet

Litter: Clutch size: average 40 green eggs

Life Span: 7-8 years

Description: This is a slender, smooth skin, medium-sized frog, up to about 2.5 inches in length. With its combination of red eyes, bright green dorsal color, and dark blue, purple or brownish flanks with cream-colored vertical bars, it can be mistaken for no other frog. The feet are generally orangish in color, with the tips of the digits expanded to form discs. The fingers are about half-webbed, while the toes are about two-thirds webbed. Males are smaller than females. The large eyes have vertical elliptical pupils.

Behavior: The red-eyed tree frog is common during the rainy season around pools and water-filled ditches, within or adjacent to forests. During the dry season they retreat to epiphytic bromeliads and other arboreal shelters. They are nocturnal, and search for insects among the leaves and branches of the forest trees. The call of the male is usually a single note 'cluck' or 'chock,' repeated at spaced intervals. They have a slow, stalking movement as they creep up on their prey.

Reproduction: This species breeds in bushes and palms beginning with the first rains of the wet season (late May to November). During amplexus within the plants, the female attaches a clump averaging 40 sticky jelly-covered eggs to a leaf directly above the water. As the 1-centimeter tadpoles hatch out, after 6-10 days, they fall into the water.

Did You Know?

• Young froglets are capable of changing color – green during the day and a purplish or reddish brown at night and they have yellow eyes instead of red.
• Red-eyed tree frogs are popular in the pet trade.
• Also known as Red-eyed leaf frog.

Where in the Zoo? I can be found in the RainForest Amphibian Exhibits at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.