Natural History:
The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is often seen as the stereotypical rainforest tree frog that most people associate with such areas as Brazil and Costa Rica. As the name suggests; Red-Eyed Tree Frogs are found in the trees and have found a way to lay their aquatic eggs while not disturbing their arboreal way of life. While most frogs lay their eggs in ponds and vernal pools, these frogs lay their eggs in bromeliads. Bromeliads are a type of plant that grows off of other plants and is often found far above the forest floor where it collects sufficient amounts of rainwater to host its own minutiae ecosystem. New research has found that the eggs of Red-Eyed Green Tree Frogs are able to obstinately hatch when under threat from a predator.
In areas such as Costa Rica there are "races" as they are referred to of Red-Eyed Tree Frogs such as those found on the Caribbean side or the Atlantic side of the country. The differences between these forms is minute with only the presence of some orange and blue to differentiate. This is an example of the early stages of evolution where different mutations occur in each separate population which is physically and genetically isolated from each other.
All forms have the prominent red eyes from which its name is derived from. These large eyes are used at night and allow for more light to enter the pupil allowing for better sight at night. This aids them as like many treefrogs; the Red-Eyed Treefrog comes out at night to breed, usually after or during heavy rain.
Anecdotal:
While in Costa Rica I went on a guided night hike where I was hoping to find some frogs. I was not disappointed as when night fell we went into a forested area by a field and began looking for frogs with torches. for the first frog I found I took a photo using flash. The guide quickly told me not to use flash as it may spook some of the animals. Respecting his words I did not use flash but instead took photos using the light from my torch. When I found a small Red-Eyed Treefrog in a leaf it began to rain again and because my camera was anything but waterproof I had to accommodate. I had luckily brought with me my Australian bush hat and held that with one hand over my camera which was in the other, my torch was held between my head and my shoulder in my desperate attempt to keep it steady. under the circumstances I am quite happy with how the photo turned out (second photo above).
The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is often seen as the stereotypical rainforest tree frog that most people associate with such areas as Brazil and Costa Rica. As the name suggests; Red-Eyed Tree Frogs are found in the trees and have found a way to lay their aquatic eggs while not disturbing their arboreal way of life. While most frogs lay their eggs in ponds and vernal pools, these frogs lay their eggs in bromeliads. Bromeliads are a type of plant that grows off of other plants and is often found far above the forest floor where it collects sufficient amounts of rainwater to host its own minutiae ecosystem. New research has found that the eggs of Red-Eyed Green Tree Frogs are able to obstinately hatch when under threat from a predator.
In areas such as Costa Rica there are "races" as they are referred to of Red-Eyed Tree Frogs such as those found on the Caribbean side or the Atlantic side of the country. The differences between these forms is minute with only the presence of some orange and blue to differentiate. This is an example of the early stages of evolution where different mutations occur in each separate population which is physically and genetically isolated from each other.
All forms have the prominent red eyes from which its name is derived from. These large eyes are used at night and allow for more light to enter the pupil allowing for better sight at night. This aids them as like many treefrogs; the Red-Eyed Treefrog comes out at night to breed, usually after or during heavy rain.
Anecdotal:
While in Costa Rica I went on a guided night hike where I was hoping to find some frogs. I was not disappointed as when night fell we went into a forested area by a field and began looking for frogs with torches. for the first frog I found I took a photo using flash. The guide quickly told me not to use flash as it may spook some of the animals. Respecting his words I did not use flash but instead took photos using the light from my torch. When I found a small Red-Eyed Treefrog in a leaf it began to rain again and because my camera was anything but waterproof I had to accommodate. I had luckily brought with me my Australian bush hat and held that with one hand over my camera which was in the other, my torch was held between my head and my shoulder in my desperate attempt to keep it steady. under the circumstances I am quite happy with how the photo turned out (second photo above).