Red-eyed tree frog interesting facts. The red-eyed tree frog is a bright, but non-poisonous beauty. New species of frogs and toads found in the world

Red-eyed tree frog(lat. Agalychnis callidryas) - one of the most beautiful frogs. It belongs to the genus of Bright-eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis) of the Hylidae family. She has a very funny face with red eyes and a contrasting green-blue-yellow body. This wonderful creature has been living on our planet for about 10 million years.

Behavior

The frog spends most of its time in the trees, having learned to skillfully hide from the ubiquitous predatory animals, and if detected, frighten them with its amazing outfit. Khitrunya masterfully uses bright colors to her advantage. Sitting on a green leaf, she pulls her legs close to her body, closes her eyes and becomes practically invisible. When a predator approaches, the amphibian opens its eyes and shows it its bright outfit in all its glory. So she confuses the enemy, and she quickly moves away.

Although the frog relies mainly on protective camouflage, it also has poisonous skin. The poison is not dangerous, but it leaves a very unpleasant taste in the predator’s mouth.

This small amphibian defies gravity, hanging on to sticks, leaves and even glass.

On her legs there are hexagonal nanopillars that cling to any surface. Between them there are channels through which mucus flows, giving the legs wet adhesion, which, together with friction, allows them to stick to any surface. The red-eyed tree frog inhabits areas near ponds and rivers in tropical forests and humid lowlands from Mexico to central Panama and northern Colombia. The optimal temperature for these amphibians is 25°-39°C during the day, and 18°-26°C at night.

Nutrition

During daylight hours, the frog sleeps among the foliage, hiding its bright colors and being covered with small yellow spots like a leaf. At night, when the risk to life is minimal, it becomes more active and goes hunting.

The basis of its diet consists of moths, crickets, flies and other insects. To quickly swallow food, she closes her eyes. Its tiny teeth hold prey, and its eyes retract into the body and push food towards the throat. Although the tree frog can simply swallow food, this technique significantly speeds up the whole process.

Reproduction

The male uses vibrations to mark his territory and scare away competitors. Sitting on a branch, it creates waves that spread 1.5 m around. This place is quite enough for him to live comfortably.

The mating season begins with the arrival of the rainy season and lasts from autumn to the first days of spring.

At this time, males descend to the ground and occupy areas near bodies of water, over which branches of trees or bushes hang.

They begin to send love signals at dusk after rain. On dry nights, the calls of the cavaliers are heard from high branches in the treetops. When the ponds are filled with water, a loud croaking sound is heard from the ground or from low-lying branches. Often while singing, males change their location and send their arias in different directions. Females, hearing croaking, descend from the trees and choose partners, apparently guided by their singing and size.

The gentleman jumps on the lady's back, and they go into the pond. There she draws water through the skin and moistens the eggs. Then the couple climbs the tree and looks for a suitable place for laying. The leaves of plants hanging over the water surface are suitable for this purpose.

The eggs are attached to the underside of a wide leaf using a sticky mass.

If the clutch is on top of the leaf, then the parents hide it from the sun or predators by covering it with the free part of the leaf on top. Then fertilization occurs. Sometimes a pair of frogs in love is attacked by a lone male and tries to settle on the back of the female. This strategy is successful, and then the eggs are fertilized by two males at the same time. From evening to morning, the female is able to lay several clutches. Before each egg laying, she and the male descend into the pond for the next collection of water.

Since the muff with eggs is attached to the vegetation hanging over the reservoir, the hatching tadpoles fall directly into the water. Some of them may end up on land. They have a chance to survive if within the next 20 hours it will rain and washes them into a puddle. Embryos in eggs develop synchronously, but are born within 6-8 days. Some species of wasps and snakes like to dine on jelly-like clutches, so future tadpoles, sensing vibrations or movement, hatch prematurely and fall down.

After a few weeks, they will turn into adult frogs and move up into the trees on their own. The amphibian becomes sexually mature at the age of 1-2 years, depending on the quantity and quality of food consumed. Body length does not exceed 5 cm. Females are larger than males.

Depending on your mood or environment the frog is able to change the intensity of its color. Life expectancy of red-eyed tree frogs wildlife about 5 years, although in captivity they can live longer.

These arboreal amphibians live in Central America. Prefer moist rainforests near river banks. They feel very good in trees, climbing them higher from the ground.

Appearance

The length of the tree frog is 4–7 cm, females are larger than males. Perhaps these are the most beautiful amphibians. Bright color the tree frog camouflages it well in the abundant foliage among a riot of colors. In addition, at night, the camouflage changes under surrounding nature and it’s not visible at all. The top is brightly colored green color, sides of blue color, belly is white. The legs are long and orange.

Each finger has a disc that secretes a sticky liquid. Having such devices, she easily climbs and descends trees. The discs, like suction cups, hold the tree frog even on leaves upside down. She is also an excellent jumper, easily jumping from branch to branch or leaf, covering a distance of about 1 meter.

The eyes are large, red with a vertical pupil. The nictitating membrane protects the eyes from dust and provides hydration. The red-eyed tree frog moves well both on the firmament and in the water.

Lifestyle. Nutrition

Leads night look life, sees well in the dark. To search for food it descends to the ground. The red-eyed tree frog feeds on insects. It catches them not only with its sticky tongue, but can also grab them with its front paws. This is a real hunter, very dexterous, she rarely misses. During the day, she hides in the leaves, climbing to the tops of trees, where she sleeps. During drought, it sits on the underside of the leaf. During this period they are silent, but after the rains they croak actively and loudly.

Reproduction

The mating season begins during the rainy season, which lasts from June to November. Males sit on branches above the water and sing their inviting songs. Also, intonation warns opponents that the place is occupied. A female can lay 1–3 clutches on tree leaves in one night. There are about 40 eggs in one clutch, each surrounded by a mucous membrane.

After 5–10 days, tadpoles appear and fall into the water, where they further development(21 – 60 days). Having assumed the appearance of an adult, young tree frogs leave aquatic environment and climb trees.

The red-eyed tree frog is an unusual amphibian of a rich light green color with a bright, expressive look. The tree frog is nocturnal. It lives in forests in the leaves of trees, but can swim.

This representative of the order of anurans comes from Central America and warm regions of Mexico.

Prefers damp tropics located in lowlands, although it is found in low foothills.

It has very modest dimensions, the length of the body is from six to eight centimeters. The head is round. Distinctive feature– large red eyes with vertically located pupils.

Leathery upper eyelids and almost transparent lower ones are necessary for protection: while resting, he observes what is happening around him through the membranes. In case of a possible attack by a tree frog skin folds go down bright red eyes are scary predator, this makes it possible to escape. Active in the dark.

The tree frog has a scary coloring, but is not poisonous. The skin is smooth. Has a good sense of touch. The size and color depend on temperature, light and other parameters. The body can be either light green or dark. The sides of the tree frog are deep blue, with stripes on them:

• purple
• brown
• yellow

They are directed vertically or diagonally, the number of stripes varies among different populations (from 9 to 5-6). The abdomen is pure white or light cream. Her shoulders and hips are blue or orange shades. The bright orange toes (and pads too) vary to light yellow.

The paws are equipped with suction cups, which is why it climbs more than it stays in ponds. There may be faint whitish spots or dark green lines on the back. Tree frogs change color from greenish (during the day) to brownish-red (at dusk).

The tree frog constantly resides in trees, sleeping and feeding there. Loves warmth (above 20 degrees).

The green frog wakes up at sunset, yawning and stretching, then stays awake. Moves by jumping over an impressive distance. In hot weather it hides in the leaves.

Nutrition

An amphibian is a carnivore, its diet consists of small insects that fit in the mouth (spiders, flies, etc.).

Enemies

The main danger to the tree frog is snakes (parrot, cat-eyed, etc.), as well as lizards, birds, the bats And small mammals. Eggs are eaten by reptiles, etc.

They suffer from fungal infections. Fish, arachnids, and arthropods can destroy tadpole fry.

The tree frog's rainy season is the most suitable weather for the birth of its offspring. Mating occurs intensively in June and October evenings. Males make different sounds: scaring - for competitors and calling - for future partners. Due to the resonator bags, the sound is loud.

The frog begins to croak intensely in front of sunset, the sound increases with increasing humidity. Female tree frogs spawn on branches hanging above the water surface; there are 35-45 eggs. They are protected by a gelatinous shell, which makes the eggs inconspicuous. By the time they hatch, each one increases in size by one and a half times. Incubation for the green tree frog is one week.

The tadpoles of the red-eyed frog emerge simultaneously and are washed into the pond. The fry grow up to 40 millimeters. After 2 and a half months they turn into frogs. one of the largest inhabitants of the water element.

Even if a person is not very friendly towards frogs, once he sees them, he will completely change his original opinion. This small bright frog with huge red eyes will not leave anyone indifferent and is called the red-eyed tree frog. Photos of these wonderful amphibians are presented in the article. The frog is small in size, its length does not exceed 7.5 cm. Its color is usually bright green, and there are yellow-blue stripes on the sides. The eyes, from which the frog gets its name, can range from orange to ruby. In addition to red eyes, frogs also have bright orange legs with large pads on the toes.

Habitat and lifestyle

Tree frog house

These frogs are arboreal animals, they need space to climb branches, so the red-eyed tree frog prefers to be kept in a spacious terrarium of considerable height. A pair of adult frogs will feel more or less comfortable in a seventy-liter aquarium with a height of 40 cm. But this is already the minimum. It is better to purchase a more spacious aquarium.

To prevent frogs from escaping, the aquarium must be tightly closed. The lid can be solid, but it is better to use a partially mesh one. This will make it easier to maintain the required level of humidity.

For soil, you can use special moistened foam rubber or coconut fiber. If necessary, even a paper towel moistened with water, folded in layers, will do. This option would be very appropriate for keeping young frogs or frogs in quarantine. You can equip the terrarium with real soil with living plants. True, the complexity of caring for such a terrarium increases significantly, but its beauty and naturalness completely compensate for the inconvenience. In addition to soil, the terrarium should be equipped with twigs and driftwood for climbing and relaxing. To allow frogs to hide and feel as natural as possible, you can add artificial or even live plants, grottoes and other decorative shelters.

Finally, it is worth paying attention that it is undesirable to use small pebbles and crushed bark to decorate the terrarium, since this material may harm the frog if it accidentally ingests it.

First of all, you need to remember that the red-eyed tree frog is native to the jungle, tropical part of Central America. Based on the data climatic features, humidity and temperature must be appropriate. Temperatures up to 28 degrees during the day and up to 24 at night. Humidity can range from 80 to 100 percent. Very good decision To maintain the required temperature, a small infrared lamp will be used. By the way, in its light you can observe the frog at night, when it is most active.

To maintain the required humidity, you can simply spray the terrarium 2-3 times a day. You also need to remember the need for constant availability clean water in the drinking bowl. It is not recommended to use tap water. Bottled ones are better suited for this purpose.

Nutrition

The red-eyed tree frog, like most other frogs, feeds on insects and other invertebrates. They are fed crickets, moths, small silkworms, and wax moth larvae. Flying insects and moths - hawk moths - can also be eaten. The main thing is to collect insects in places where there are no pesticides and herbicides. There are also special minerals designed for reptiles. When feeding adult tree frogs, these minerals are provided every third or fourth feeding. And for young frogs these additives are added to their food all the time. This is done simply by sprinkling the main feed with mineral supplements.

Reproduction of tree frogs in captivity

The red-eyed tree frog reproduces in captivity reluctantly. It happens that you cannot do without special chemical additives called human chorionic gonadotropin. Also, to reproduce, tree frogs must first create the illusion of a tropical winter. Humidity rises from 90%, and temperature drops to 20-22 degrees. After one and a half to two months, it is time to raise the temperature to normal, and transfer the male and female to a terrarium for breeding. This terrarium should be half water. The water should be at a temperature of at least 25-26 degrees. The lifespan of tree frogs in captivity is about ten years.

The red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) is one of the most popular and beautiful pet terrarium frogs. The body of the red-eyed tree frog is light green with blue stripes on the sides, interspersed with white, although the frog can change its color to blend in with its surroundings. Its most noticeable characteristic feature is its bright red eyes, which give the tree frog its name. Sometimes it is also called the red-eyed jumping frog.

These cute red-eyed frogs are not difficult to keep if you follow all the requirements. They are active at night, so they wake up just in the evening when the whole family gathers at home. They are funny, fun to watch, and especially fun to watch as their colors change. Red-eyed tree frogs can change color while hunting, from light green to dark brown, depending on their environment.

The red-eyed tree frog is an excellent pet terrarium frog, suitable for both beginners and experienced breeders. These frogs first appeared in a home terrarium in the mid or late 80s; they were brought from Honduras. It is believed that there are several species of these frogs.

Origin

The red-eyed tree frog is a medium-sized frog, 2.5 - 5 cm. It comes from tropical forests extreme south of Mexico and Central America. They are most active at night, when they can be seen and heard. They live exclusively in trees, hiding during the day among dense tropical foliage.

An adult red-eyed tree frog is typically 2.5 - 4 cm in length. Females are almost always larger, both in length and mass, so size can be used to determine the sex of a frog.

It is not known how long these frogs live in nature, but they are very hardy when kept in a home terrarium. At the right conditions Maintenance and care of these terrarium tree frogs will delight you for up to 10 years or more. Average duration life in a terrarium is 10 years.

Terrarium

All standard glass reptile terrariums are ideal for keeping red-eyed tree frogs. Ready-made terrariums for frogs are easy to clean, are available in various sizes, retain heat well and maintain humidity.

The recommended terrarium volume for keeping an adult red-eyed tree frog is 75 liters. In such a terrarium you can keep 3-4 frogs at home. In smaller terrariums, frogs may be injured when they jump and hit the glass.

Young animals can be kept in a smaller container, but they grow quickly, so a larger room will be needed very soon.

Light and warmth

Tropical tree frogs with red eyes should be kept in moderate warm temperatures air during the day. In the room where the terrarium is located, the temperature should not exceed 27°C, optimal temperature in the terrarium 25-28°C. At night the temperature can drop to 15°C, but since they are nocturnal animals, a warmer night environment is recommended.

If you live in warm regions, or in summer months When the temperature is high enough, additional heating may not be needed. However, if temperatures drop below recommended values, an additional heat source is required.

For heating, low-power incandescent lamps, up to 60 W, or heaters that provide soft heat without excessive drying are suitable. Red lamps are great because they can be left on at night to provide warmth to the frogs 24 hours a day.

Specialized full-spectrum lighting is not necessary for red-eyed frogs to thrive in captivity, but low-level ultraviolet (UVB) lamps will be helpful. Such lamps will not only help you observe animals, but will be useful for the living plants planted in the terrarium and will provide the frogs with UV rays.

Substrate and decoration

There are several requirements for the substrate used for the red-eyed tree frog. It must maintain the required level of humidity, but it must also be easy to clean and resistant to mold and mildew. Ideal for these purposes are coconut products such as EcoEarth, CocoSoft and others, pressed into coconut bricks or coconut flakes. Orchid bark or sphagnum moss will also work. All this can be found in specialized stores.

Red-eyed tree frogs are tree frogs and require a variety of climbing devices to crawl around. Branched sticks, tree bark decorations, live and artificial plants must be used to create a comfortable natural environment for frogs. You can recreate a real living tropical corner that will decorate your home.

Choose plants (live or plastic) with large, broad leaves, as these are more consistent with the plants around the frogs in nature, and are suitable for hiding and sleeping. Living plants must be tolerant to high temperatures And high humidity, as well as your lighting conditions. An additional light source may be needed if the plants become stunted.

Water and humidity

The red-eyed tree frog must have a large, shallow dish of water in its terrarium. These frogs rarely swim, but a large surface area of ​​water is needed to increase the environmental humidity in the terrarium and will provide the frogs with an emergency retreat if the temperature gets too high.

The humidity level in the frog room should be moderate to high. However, the room should not become damp. In most cases, two sprays of water per day are sufficient to maintain the required humidity. Water is sprayed from a spray bottle onto the substrate, decorations, walls of the terrarium, etc. You can spray the liquid manually, or you can use automated systems, especially if you are away for an extended period of time.

Feed and feeding

Red-eyed tree frogs are insectivorous frogs, and in captivity will feed on crickets (grasshoppers) and other nutritious insects. Some adult frogs will eat a variety of worms, but most prefer grasshoppers at any age. On sale you can find specialized food for terrarium frogs - canned grasshoppers. These are specially dried grasshoppers that preserve everything nutrients. But you can also feed them with live food, if possible.

Make sure the food items are the right size for the frogs to eat. An adult tree frog can swallow even the largest cricket, but babies need tiny grasshoppers, no more than 0.5 cm long.

All food products are regularly sprinkled with calcium High Quality and vitamin D3. This is especially important for young, growing frogs; they should be supplemented at every feeding. Adult frogs may take this supplement less frequently.

In addition to the calcium supplement mentioned above, reptiles also need a multivitamin. They are given in powder form once or twice a week.

Always read the instructions for use of both calcium and vitamin supplements for proper dosage, as they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Appeal

Like most frogs, red-eyed tree frogs do not tolerate excessive human interaction. Although they are harmless and can be touched for a short periods time, these are not tame pets. In addition to the fact that this is severe stress for the animal, the frog sensitive skin, which can easily absorb pathogens or toxins from our hands.