Home › Amphibia › Phyllomedusidae › Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas)

SPECIES PROFILE

Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas)

Agalychnis

IUCN STATUS

Least Concern

Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas) — Southern Mexico through Central America to northwestern Colombia.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Least Concern

CLASS

Amphibia

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE

Southern Mexico through Central America to northwestern Colombia.

DIET

Carnivore

HABITAT

Tropical lowland and premontane rainforest near ponds, streams, and slow-moving water bodies.

🔬 Classification

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Amphibia

ORDER

Anura

FAMILY

Phyllomedusidae

GENUS

Agalychnis

📋 Description

SIZE

Small frog 4–7 cm; females larger than males.

COLORATION

Brilliant green body with blue-and-yellow flanks, orange feet, and large vivid red eyes; white-cream undersides.

ADAPTATIONS

Adhesive toe pads for climbing smooth leaf surfaces; red eyes may startle predators (deimatic display) allowing escape.

🌿 Ecology

HABITAT

Tropical lowland and premontane rainforest near ponds, streams, and slow-moving water bodies.

DIET

Carnivore

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Southern Mexico through Central America to northwestern Colombia.

REPRODUCTION

Females deposit clutches of 20–75 eggs on leaves overhanging water; tadpoles drop into water upon hatching after 6–7 days.

DIET DETAILS

Insects including crickets, moths, and flies; ambush predator that sits motionless until prey comes within tongue range.

⚠️ Threats & Conservation

PRIMARY THREATS

Habitat loss, water pollution, and chytrid fungus disease; climate change altering wet-season timing.

💡 Interesting Facts

1

The red eyes are thought to be a startle response — sudden exposure of the bright eyes may momentarily freeze a predator.

2

Red-eyed Tree Frogs are one of the most photographed amphibians in the world and are iconic symbols of rainforest conservation.

🔭 Sighting Guide

📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT

Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve near Granada, Nicaragua, offers night hikes with Red-eyed Tree Frog sightings.

Ometepe Island on Lake Nicaragua — particularly in Maderas Volcano forest — hosts tree frogs in pond-edge vegetation.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge wetlands on the Costa Rica border provide ideal breeding habitat for Red-eyed Tree Frogs.

🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT

May–November wet season when breeding activity peaks; eggs are laid on leaves above water.

🎯 SIGHTING TIPS

Visit pond edges and vegetation overhanging still water after rainfall at night; use a red-filtered torch to avoid startling frogs.