Agalychnis callidryas
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This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. (March 2011) |
| Red-eyed tree frog | |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Suborder: | Neobatrachia |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Agalychnis |
| Species: | A. callidryas |
| Binomial name | |
| Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Cope, 1862) |
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- For other species commonly known as the red-eyed tree frog, see Litoria chloris
The red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) is an arboreal hylid native to Neotropical rainforests in Central America.
As its name suggests, the red-eyed tree frog has red eyes with vertically narrowed pupils. It has a vibrant green body with yellow and blue vertically striped sides. Its webbed feet and toes are orange or red. The skin on the red-eyed tree frog's stomach is soft and fragile skin, whereas the back is thicker and rougher.
The red-eyed tree frog has three eyelids, and sticky pads on its toes. Phyllomedusid tree frogs are arboreal animals, meaning they spend a majority of their lives in trees; they are excellent jumpers.
Red-eyed tree frogs are not poisonous and rely on camouflage to protect themselves. During the day, they remain motionless, cover their blue sides with their back legs, tuck their bright feet under their stomachs, and shut their red eyes. Thus, they appear almost completely green, and well hidden among the foliage.
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Diet [edit]
Red-eyed tree frogs are insectivorous that eat crickets, moths, flies, and other insects. For tadpoles, fruit flies and pinhead crickets are the meals of choice.[1] They hunt only at night. [1]
Threats [edit]
The following have been listed as threats to the survival of the species on the IUCN Red List:[2]
- Residential and commercial development
- Housing and urban areas
- Agriculture and aquaculture
- Annual and perennial nontimber crops
- Shifting agriculture
- Small-holder farming
- Agroindustrial farming
- Livestock farming and ranching
- Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
- Agroindustrial grazing, ranching or farming
- Annual and perennial nontimber crops
- Biological resource use
- Logging and wood harvesting
- Pollution
- Agricultural and forestry effluents
Reproduction [edit]
During mating season, the male frogs shake the branches where they are sitting to improve their chances of finding a mate by keeping rivals at bay. This is the first evidence that tree-dwelling vertebrates use vibration to communicate. Some frogs communicate by croaking deep sounds for warnings and high sounds for mating.[3] When rainfall is at its highest, a male red-eyed tree frog calls "chack" to get the attention of the female, which then carries him on her back around for up to several hours during the oviposition process. The female chooses a leaf above a pond or large puddle, and lays her clutch of eggs. The eggs develop into small tadpoles, which hatch after several days and fall into the water below.[4] Dragonflies, fish, and water beetles prey on the tadpoles. They remain in the water from three weeks to several months, until they metamorphose, or develop into frogs. Snakes, spiders, bats, and birds of the rainforest are predators of this frog. After full metamorphosis weeks later, the juveniles that survive the first few weeks crawl back into the undergrowth and security of plants in the vicinity of these pools, often in the hollows of tubular plants like bromeliads. Juvenile specimens prey on very small flies and insects during the first months of their lives. The young mature after two years and begin mating at the age of 3–4 yr. These tree frogs are known to live as long as five years (data from captive breeding programs), depending on the health and conditions of their habitat (i.e. abundant plant growth, plenty of fresh water, and an abundance of small and larger insects on which to prey).
They are sometimes successfully bred in captivity if kept under adequate conditions in high-humidity vivaria (e.g. by using misting equipment), tropical plants such as Bromelia and other epiphyte plants, together with well-aerated water pools. Their captive habitat should have an 11-12-hour light cycle and an average day temperature of 26 to 28°C (with night-time averages of 22-35°C). Simulating a rainy season once a year in November/December will encourage reproduction.
Taxonomy [edit]
Red-eyed tree frogs are closely related to chorus frogs, which have the same body style and many of the same habits, though chorus frog are more vocal.
Distribution and habitat [edit]
Red-eyed tree frogs inhabit areas near rivers and ponds in rainforests from southern Mexico, through Central America, to northern Colombia.
See also [edit]
- Litoria chloris — the Australian red-eyed tree frog
References [edit]
- ^ a b "Frogs and Toads". Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia. 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ Solís et al. (2004). Agalychnis callidryas. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
- ^ Tree Frogs Shake off Rivals, Australian Geographic, June 23, 2010
- ^ Pyburn, W. F. 1970. Breeding behavior of the leaf-frogs Phyllomedusa callidryas and Phyllomedusa dacnicolor in Mexico. Copeia, 1970, 209-218.
External links [edit]
Data related to Agalychnis callidryas at Wikispecies 
Media related to Agalychnis callidryas at Wikimedia Commons
- Red-Eyed Tree Frog Facts
- Honolulu Zoo: Red-eyed Tree Frog
- Caring for Your Red-Eyed Tree Frogs
- Red-Eyed Tree Frog Care Information at Caresheets.net
- Red Eyed Tree Frog Care at RedEyedTreeFrog.org
- Article Road: List of All Frog Breeds: Things You Can Do to Ensure Your Frog Has a Long, Happy and Healthy Life: Red Eyed Tree Frog
- Aqualand: Keeping Your Red-Eyed Tree Frogs
- Red Eyed Tree Frogs as pets
