Red-Eyed Tree Frogs, Red-Eyed Tree Frog Pictures, Red-Eyed Tree Frog Facts

The red-eyed tree frog flashes its brightly colored body parts when startled. It sleeps by day with its eyes closed and body markings covered, stuck to leaf-bottoms.

Photograph by Paul Zahl

Map

Red-Eyed Tree Frog Range

Fast Facts

Type:: Amphibian
Diet:: Carnivore
Average life span in the wild:: 5 years
Size:: 1.5 to 2.75 in (4 to 7 cm)
Group name:: Army
Did you know?: The red-eyed tree frog is also called the red-eyed leaf frog.
Size relative to a tea cup:

Many scientists believe the red-eyed tree frog developed its vivid scarlet peepers to shock predators into at least briefly questioning their meal choice.

These iconic rain-forest amphibians sleep by day stuck to leaf-bottoms with their eyes closed and body markings covered. When disturbed, they flash their bulging red eyes and reveal their huge, webbed orange feet and bright blue-and-yellow flanks. This technique, called startle coloration, may give a bird or snake pause, offering a precious instant for the frog to spring to safety.

Their neon-green bodies may play a similar role in thwarting predators. Many of the animals that eat red-eyed tree frogs are nocturnal hunters that use keen eyesight to find prey. The shocking colors of this frog may over-stimulate a predator's eyes, creating a confusing ghost image that remains behind as the frog jumps away.

Red-eyed tree frogs, despite their conspicuous coloration, are not venomous. They are found in tropical lowlands from southern Mexico, throughout Central America, and in northern South America. Nocturnal carnivores, they hide in the rain forest canopy and ambush crickets, flies, and moths with their long, sticky tongues.

Red-eyed tree frogs are not endangered. But their habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate, and their highly recognizable image is often used to promote the cause of saving the world's rain forests.

More Frogs and Toads

Please select a test to run

Amphibian Features

Poison Dart Frog Pictures

Want to see more of these incredibly colorful critters? Hop on in.
Warty Newt

Meet the endangered newt that’s Europe’s largest. Learn why these amphibians are special—warts and all.
Spotted Salamander

Go underground and meet this salamander that's both large and common, yet so secretive it’s rarely seen.

Please select a test to run

On Nat Geo WILD

TV Schedule »

Animal News

Animals

Animal News

Special Ad Section

From the Magazine

Gannets Pictures

Champion divers but clumsy landers, doting parents but hostile neighbors—northern gannets abound in contradictions.
Estonia's Ural Owls

Photographer Sven Začek provides an intimate view of this large raptor.