Red-Eyed Tree Frogs - Facts for Kids

Basic Information

The Red-Eyed Tree Frog’s scientific name is Agalychnis callidryas, which comes from Greek words meaning “beautiful tree nymph”!

Red-Eyed Tree Frogs belong to the family Hylidae (HY-lid-eye), which includes most of the world’s tree frogs!

A group of Red-eyed Tree Frogs is called an “army” — imagine a whole army of these colorful creatures in the rainforest!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs can live up to 5 years in the wild, but some have lived for more than 8 years when cared for by humans!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs are about as long as your thumb, usually growing between 2–3 inches (5-7.5 centimeters) in length!

A baby Red-eyed Tree Frog is smaller than a penny when it first changes from a tadpole!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs are listed as “Least Concern” by nature protection experts, which means they’re doing well in the wild!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs can be found in rainforests from southern Mexico all the way down to Panama and parts of northern South America!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs don’t have any poison or harmful bite — they’re completely safe for humans!

Scientists put Red-eyed Tree Frogs in a group called amphibians (am-FIB-ee-ans), which means they can live both in water and on land!

Physical Features

Red-eyed Tree Frogs have sticky toe pads that work like tiny suction cups, helping them climb almost any surface!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs have bright red eyes, which is very rare in nature and helps scare away predators (animals that want to eat them) when the frog suddenly opens its eyes!

During the day, Red-eyed Tree Frogs fold their red eyes under their eyelids, showing only a green pattern that helps them hide!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs have white bellies with blue and orange or yellow stripes on their sides — like wearing colorful pajamas!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs have special cells (tiny parts) in their skin that can change their green color slightly darker or lighter to match their surroundings!

A Red-eyed Tree Frog’s back legs are longer than their front legs, perfect for making big jumps!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs have skin so thin that they can actually breathe through it when it’s wet!

Male Red-eyed Tree Frogs are about one-third smaller than females, making them look like kid versions of the grown-up female frogs!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs have webbed feet that are as soft as a rubber balloon and help them swim through water like little paddleboards!

Behavior & Abilities

Red-eyed Tree Frogs are nocturnal (night-time active), which means they’re most awake at night when most of us are sleeping!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs talk to each other by making a soft “chack” sound that sounds a bit like tiny hiccups!

When sleeping, Red-eyed Tree Frogs tuck their bright legs under their bodies and close their red eyes, becoming almost invisible on green leaves!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs shake the branch they’re sitting on to scare away other frogs who might want their spot!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs use their long sticky tongue to catch insects (bugs) — it can shoot out and back in faster than you can blink!

During rainy season, male Red-eyed Tree Frogs gather in groups and sing together like a nighttime choir to attract females!

Red‑eyed tree frogs have big eyes that help them see all around without needing to turn their heads much.

Red-eyed Tree Frogs are excellent swimmers but prefer to spend most of their time in trees, only coming down for special occasions!

When startled (surprised), Red-eyed Tree Frogs can leap away and change direction in mid-air like tiny acrobats (circus performers)!

Habitat & Environment

Red-eyed Tree Frogs love to live in rainforest areas where the humidity (moisture in the air) is high — like living in nature’s shower!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs usually make their homes on the underside of large leaves, where they can stay cool and hidden during the day!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs prefer to live near water sources but spend most of their time in trees up to 100 feet (30 meters) high!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs don’t build nests but instead find perfect spots in nature that already exist, like comfortable leaf hammocks!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs prefer temperatures (how hot or cold it is) between 75-85°F (24-29°C) – similar to a warm spring day!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs often return to the same sleeping spot day after day, like having their own bedroom in the rainforest!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs are found in areas where it rains frequently (often), as they need to keep their skin moist to breathe properly!

During really dry times, Red-eyed Tree Frogs stay moist by secreting mucus and hiding in cool, shady spots — like using nature’s lotion to keep their skin healthy!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs often choose leaves that hang over water to lay their eggs, giving their tadpoles a safe place to drop into when they hatch!

Diet & Hunting

Red-eyed Tree Frogs are carnivorous (meat-eaters) and love to eat crickets, flies, moths, and other small insects!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs hunt by sitting very still and waiting for prey (food animals) to come close enough to catch with their lightning-fast tongue!

Red‑eyed Tree Frogs have stretchy, sticky tongues that can shoot out about one‑third the length of their body in a flash — then snap back faster than you can blink!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs usually eat every 1–2 days and can eat up to 6 crickets in one meal!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs use their large eyes to spot movement in the dark and can see colors even at night!

Baby Red-eyed Tree Frogs start eating tiny insects when they’re just the size of your fingernail!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs never drink water – they absorb (soak up) all the water they need through their skin when it’s moist!

Red-eyed Tree Frogs can catch and eat insects while hanging upside down from a leaf!

Life Cycle & Growth

Female Red-eyed Tree Frogs lay between 20–40 eggs at a time on the underside of leaves above water!

Red-eyed Tree Frog eggs look like small green pearls and take about 6–7 days to hatch!

When Red-eyed Tree Frog eggs hatch, the tadpoles drop into the water below and begin their amazing transformation (change)!

Red-eyed Tree Frog tadpoles take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months to turn into tiny frogs, depending on where they live!

Baby Red-eyed Tree Frogs start out brown and develop their beautiful colors as they grow up!