National Geographic Kids USA - September 2017

SOUDERS / GETTY IMAGES (WALKING); INGO ARNDT / MINDEN PICTURES (FOOT, ALL EYES); MICHAEL DURHAM / MINDEN PICTURES (IN RAIN); CHRIS WARE (COMIC)STEPHEN DALTON / MINDEN PICTURES (LEAPING); CHRISTIAN ZIEGLER / MINDEN PICTURES (EATING); CHRISTIAN ZIEGLER / MINDEN PICTURES (EGGS); PAUL

Stick to It

Slick surfaces aren’t a problem

for this frog. It can easily clam-

ber across wet leaves. Instead

of hopping, the animal takes

careful steps like a pro rock

climber. It also has rounded toe

pads that stick to surfaces like

suction cups, and its feet pro-

duce gluey mucus to help it grip

slippery surfaces. It can even

cling to the undersides of

leaves—Spider-Man-style—

to hide from predators. That’s

a sticky surprise.

Escape Hatch

Female red-eyed tree frogs

deposit eggs on leaves that

overhang ponds. So when they

hatch about a week later, the

tadpoles simply drop into the

water, where they’ll develop into

young frogs. But what if a wasp

or snake finds the eggs before

they hatch?

Red-eyed tree frogs forming

in their eggs(called embryos)

can hatch up to two days early

if they feel jiggling from an

attacking predator. “They basi-

cally break through the egg and

dive into the pond,” researcher

Karen Warkentin says.

Ambush and Eat

A red-eyed tree frog might

jump through the air to get

closer to an insect it wants

to eat. This animal also uses

the element of surprise. Known

as an ambush predator, the

amphibian sometimes hides

among the leaves in its rain

forest home. The frog waits

patiently until a tasty-looking

moth or cricket comes within

striking distance. Then it fires

out its long, sticky tongue to

capture the insect and pull the

meal into its mouth. Sounds

like this frog is all about fast

food.

Males may

wrestle over

territory or

mates.

Females

grow about

one inch longer

than males.

lunch

Frog Formation

Red-eyed tree frogs may

be some of the most rec-

ognizable animals on the

planet. But it takes time

for them to develop their

look. Check out the life

stages of this incredible

amphibian.

Three days after the eggs are laid ... About three days later ...

A FROG

LEAPS TO

CAPTURE

A TASTY

CRICKET.

UNDERSIDE

OF FOOT

A HATCHING

TADPOLE

DROPS FROM

AN EGG

CLUSTER.

caught it!

18 SEPTEMBER 2017