The red-eyed tree frog is an absolutely cartoonish frog.

When it comes to the world of wildlife, sometimes it seems that its inhabitants came straight out of the pages of children's fairy tales or cartoons. One of these amazing creatures is the red-eyed tree frog. Native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, this frog is striking with its bright green color and incredibly red eyes. Get to know this wonderful inhabitant of the tropics, its unique features and habitats. The red-eyed tree frog is a true miracle of nature, reminding us that the world around us is full of unexpected and exciting discoveries.

When you first see a red-eyed tree frog, you might think this creature came straight out of an animated movie. Her rich green skin color, bright red eyes and amazing blue or yellow sides make her appearance incredibly attractive and memorable.

This coloration is not only beautiful, but also plays an important role in the frog's survival: the bright color can scare off predators, and red eyes serve as a danger signal. Despite their bright, frightening color, red-eyed tree frogs are not poisonous, but their skin contains a large amount of active peptides (tachykinin, bradykinin, caerulein and demorphin). In addition, this coloration helps red-eyed tree frogs to find each other in dense thickets of tropical forests.

And young tree frogs living in Panama can change their color: during the day they are green, and at night they become crimson or red-brown. Juveniles have yellow eyes rather than red.

The red-eyed tree frog is a slender frog. Size: females - 7.5 cm, males - 5.6 cm. Life expectancy: 3-5 years.

These amazing amphibians live in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize, Colombia, Panama). They prefer to live in trees in the upper and middle layers of the forest and rarely come down to the ground.

During the day, frogs sleep on the undersides of green leaves, hiding from predators. During rest, their eyes are covered with a translucent membrane, which does not interfere with the frogs' vision. If a red-eyed tree frog is attacked by a predator, it sharply opens its eyes and their bright red color confuses the attacker. The moment the predator freezes, the frog runs away.

Red-eyed tree frogs are nocturnal animals, their activity begins after dark. At this time they go in search of food. These frogs feed primarily on insects and other small invertebrates. Their nocturnal lifestyle and ability to jump long distances make them unrivaled hunters in their natural environment.

The red-eyed tree frog is a true gourmet of the tropical forest. Its diet includes a variety of insects such as flies, mosquitoes and butterflies, and other small invertebrates. Interestingly, it hunts primarily at night, using its sharp eyes and fast movements to capture prey. In addition to its culinary predilections, the red-eyed tree frog is notable for its jumping - it can move between branches and leaves with amazing dexterity and precision.

These frogs are also known for their sounds. Males make loud croaking sounds, especially during mating season, to attract females. Their sounds are as unique as their appearance and add even more mystery to the rainforest atmosphere.

The breeding of red-eyed tree frogs is a special spectacle. Males, competing with each other, sing actively, trying to attract a female. On dry nights, males sing while sitting high on the vegetation; during rain or when ponds are full, they descend to the ground or sit at the base of small bushes and trees.

When a female descends to the males, several gentlemen can jump on her at once. As soon as amplexus occurs (essentially an embrace to hold the female), the female, with the male sitting on her back, goes down into the water and remains there for about ten minutes in order to absorb water through the skin. After this, the female lays eggs on leaves (one egg at a time, 30-50 in total), which hang over the water. During the breeding season, a female may mate with several males and lay up to five clutches.

When the little tadpoles hatch, they fall straight into the water where the next stage of their lives begins. The transformation from tadpole to adult frog takes several weeks, during which time the little tree frogs undergo astonishing changes, transforming from aquatic creatures into agile arboreal amphibians. This life cycle not only demonstrates their amazing adaptation to life in the rainforest, but also highlights the fragility of their existence, dependent on clean water and untouched forest areas.

Like many other rainforest animals, red-eyed tree frogs are now under serious threat. There are fewer and fewer of them due to shrinking natural habitats and climate change. Their home—wet, green forests—is disappearing before our eyes due to tree cutting and urban expansion.

Protecting red-eyed tree frogs and their habitat has become an important issue for many environmental activists. There are many people and organizations fighting for the future of red-eyed tree frogs. They work to preserve forests, teach people to love and appreciate these colorful amphibians, and study them to better understand how to help them.

Remember, the red-eyed tree frog is not just a pretty picture from a book. This is an amazing creature that has its own important role in nature. She captivates with her appearance and amazing jumps, remaining one of the brightest stars of the tropical forest. But to keep these stars from going out, we need to act. Caring for red-eyed tree frogs is a step towards preserving the diversity of our planet. So let's appreciate and protect these small but important inhabitants of the rainforest!