Red-Eyed Tree Frog

rainforest · camouflage · tree dweller

Those famous red eyes. The red-eyed tree frog's bright red eyes are its most recognizable feature, but they're not actually for seeing better. Scientists think the red eyes might startle predators or help the frog hide among colorful rainforest plants and flowers.

A rainbow frog. This frog has a bright green body, blue and yellow stripes running down its sides, bright orange or red feet, and a white belly. All these wild colors make it one of the most beautiful frogs in the world.

Hidden in plain sight. Even though the red-eyed tree frog is extremely colorful, those bright colors actually work as camouflage in the rainforest. The green blends with leaves and plants, while the blue, yellow, and red match flowers and other jungle decorations.

The surprise defense. When a predator spots this frog, the bright colors can trigger a startle response that confuses the predator and gives the frog time to escape. Unlike many other brightly colored frogs, the red-eyed tree frog is not poisonous at all.

Central American rainforests. Red-eyed tree frogs live in the rainforests of Central America and parts of northwestern South America, where they spend most of their time hanging out on leaves high up in the trees.