Red-eyed tree frog

The frog that startles enemies with its eyes

By day this frog sleeps under a leaf, green and with eyes shut — nobody sees it. If danger comes, it suddenly opens bright red eyes and flashes its yellow-blue sides — the predator freezes for a second and the frog leaps away! Its toes have sticky pads, so it clings to leaves like a ceiling. It lays eggs on leaves over water, and the tadpoles drop in.

The red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) lives in rainforests from Mexico to Colombia, 5–7 cm long. Nocturnal; by day it hides green under a leaf. Its 'startle display' (deimatic behaviour): suddenly opened red eyes and bright flanks confuse a predator for a moment. Toe pads grip smooth surfaces. It lays about 40 eggs on a leaf over a pond; if a snake approaches, the embryos sense the vibration and hatch early, dropping into the water — an 'escape hatching'. It is not poisonous, unlike many tropical frogs. It breathes and 'drinks' through its skin. A symbol of the rainforest; common, but deforestation is a threat.

Fun facts

• If a snake comes near, the tadpoles hatch early and drop into the water.
• This frog 'drinks' water through its skin.
• Its red eyes 'freeze' an enemy for a second.