CLASS AMPHIBIA: AMPHIBIANS
red eyed tree frog: Agalychnis callidryas
Did you know that pet frog you had in kindergarten was actually a secret agent? Frogs are amphibians, which comes from the Greek word for “double life”.
That’s because...
...frogs, and all other amphibians, live both on land and in water at some point in their lives. This class, unlike fish, have a three-chambered heart. One chamber receives oxygenated blood and one blood with carbon dioxide. The third chamber either sends the oxygenated blood to the body or sends the carbon dioxide-filled blood to the lungs. This means that the two bloods rarely mix, resulting in more efficient and more oxygen-rich blood flow. Amphibian eggs must be laid in water, as they dry out easily for lack of a protective shell. However, some species have developed systems for laying eggs out of water, where the tadpoles later fall into the water to develop. Eggs are fertilized externally by the male.
No doubt you’ve seen the amphibian in the above picture before- the red eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) is probably the most recognized frog out there. However, these 2 to 3 inch-long frogs get so much love for a reason. First, they have these amazing colors (just admit it- those red eyes are awesome) which they use to throw off predators. It is said they will jump up and flash their brightly hued skin at a predator, then return to hiding. This causes the predator to look for those bright colors, when in reality the frog now appears a standard green. They can also use those amazing eyes to eat. Like most frogs, the red eyed tree frog can actually push its eyes into its body to help them swallow! How many people do you know who can do that? Finally, they can defy gravity. Why be an astronaut if you can be a tree frog? By friction and adhesion from mucus, these creatures can climb almost any surface. This species can be found in the area of Central America to North Mexico. They inhabit ponds as tadpoles and rainforests as adults. Insects seem to be the preferred dish, as these animals are indeed carnivores. In the wild, our small friend can live to around 5 years.