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Red-Eyed Tree Frog, Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica has hundreds of amazing animal species, but this little frog was my favorite!  This is a red-eyed tree frog which we saw on the Bogarin Trail in La Fortuna.

02 Red Eyed Tree Frog

Females deposit their eggs on a leaf overhanging a pond.  When the egg hatches, the tadpole falls into the water and lives on insects until it develops into a frog.  As frogs, they climb into trees and bushes where they spend the rest of their lives, sleeping in the day and being active at night.  They are quite small ranging from 1 to 2.5 inches (2.5cm – 7cm).

01 Red Eyed Tree Frog

The frogs have a green color, striking orange feet, a bluish stripe on their sides, and huge red eyes.  The green helps them blend in with leaves, but the bright colors of their feet and eyes are a defense mechanism mimicing the coloration of poisons dart frogs, and making predators think twice before eating them (although red-eyed frogs are not poisonous).   The pads on their feet secrete a sticky mucus that helps them hang onto surfaces.

03 Red Eyed Tree Frog

This little fellow was an acrobat, showing his athletic skills and flexibility as he clung to this branch.

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  • 00 Red Eyed Tree Frog
  • 01 Red Eyed Tree Frog
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Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

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