Red-eyed tree frog
붉은눈청개구리
A tree frog of Central American rainforests. By day it sleeps on leaves with eyes shut and limbs tucked in, looking all green; if disturbed it flashes its red eyes, blue flanks and orange feet to startle predators.
See it on the 3D globe →At a glance
- Class
- Amphibians
- Lives in
- Costa Rican rainforest
- Diet
- Insect eater
- Weight
- about 0.01 kg
- Length
- about 0.06 m
- Lifespan
- up to about 5 years
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN LC)
- Habitat
- rainforests
Quick answers
Where does the Red-eyed tree frog live?
It lives in rainforests. On the globe you can find it near Costa Rican rainforest.
How big is the Red-eyed tree frog?
It grows to about 0.06 m and 0.01 kg.
What does the Red-eyed tree frog eat?
Its diet: insect eater.
How long does the Red-eyed tree frog live?
It can live up to about 5 years.
Is the Red-eyed tree frog endangered?
It is listed as Least Concern (IUCN LC).
The red-eyed tree frog is one of the most recognisable frogs in the world. Its body is bright green with blue and yellow stripes on the sides, its feet are orange and its large eyes are red. It lives in rainforests of Central America and north-western South America.
This frog spends most of its life in trees and is active at night, when it hunts insects. During the day it sleeps on the underside of a leaf with its eyes shut and its colourful parts tucked away, so it looks all green. It is about 5 centimetres long for males and 7.5 centimetres for females. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Flash colours
The frog's colours work as a trick called flash coloration. At rest it blends in with leaves. If a predator comes close, the frog opens its red eyes and shows its orange feet and blue-and-yellow sides all at once. The surprise can freeze the attacker for a moment and give the frog time to jump away. Although it looks like a poison frog, it is not poisonous. Sticky toe pads let it cling to the underside of leaves.
Eggs that can escape
The frogs breed near ponds, so they are found in humid lowland forests. The female lays her eggs on leaves that hang over water. If a predator such as a snake approaches, the embryos can hatch early and drop into the water below to escape. Males are smaller than females, and scientists have found that females seem to choose particular males rather than mating at random.
Fun facts
- It sleeps by day with its bright colours hidden, then flashes its red eyes to startle predators.
- The red eyes are hidden when the frog's eyes are closed, and the frog can still see light through a thin membrane that acts like a see-through eyelid.
- Eggs can hatch early and drop into the pond when they sense an approaching predator.
- The frog is not poisonous, even though its bright colours look like those of poison frogs.
On the globe
The globe places the frog in a rainforest in Costa Rica. Look for the green body, red eyes and orange feet.
Quiz time
Which is longer: Red-eyed tree frog or Axolotl?
Show the answer
Axolotl. (0.06 m vs 0.23 m) Axolotl →
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Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14