Glass frogs are enchanting creatures with a rare ability to be nearly invisible when resting, thanks to their transparent skin. Their unique biology and habitat make them one of the most captivating species of amphibians in the rainforest canopy.
Glass frogs
Glass frogs have translucent skin on their belly, allowing you to see their heart beating and organs moving.
They become up to 60% more transparent while sleeping by hiding red blood cells in their liver.
Glass frogs use “edge diffusion” camouflage; their translucent legs soften their outline against leaves.
Most species have large golden eyes and expanded digit tips that help them climb wet, slippery branches.
Male glass frogs guard eggs laid on leaves above streams, protecting them from predators and dehydration.
They jump in a unique bipedal way called saltation, leaping over 10 feet at once to evade danger.
They are mostly nocturnal, hunting small insects and spiders in the treetops during nighttime.
Their bright belly markings sometimes mimic leaf veins, adding to their effective camouflage.
These frogs can reflect infrared light, helping them avoid detection by heat-sensitive predators like eyelash vipers.
They live in diverse habitats, from lowland rainforests to mountainous cloud forests.
Glass frogs have been found to control the packaging of their red blood cells without clotting, a unique blood adaptation.
Species count exceeds 160, showing a rich diversity adapted to various forest niches.
Their eggs hatch into tadpoles that drop into nearby streams to continue development aquatic life stages.
Glass frogs produce distinctive mating calls, increasing in volume as males grow more dominant.
Climate change and habitat loss threaten many species, making conservation crucial to their survival.
