Agalychnis

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Agalychnis
Agalychnis callidryas.jpg
Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Subfamily: Phyllomedusinae
Genus: Agalychnis
Cope, 1864
Type species
Agalychnis callidryas
(Cope, 1862)
Synonyms [1]
  • Pachymedusa Duellman, 1968

Agalychnis is a genus of tree frogs native to forests in Mexico, Central America and northwestern South America. [1] The genus consists of 14 species within the family Phyllomedusidae.

Contents

Description

Agalychnis are slender frogs that have many different color combinations. As tree-dwelling amphibians, they primarily inhabit forest canopies. These frogs have webbed toes and adhesive pads at the tips of their digits. Their dorsal coloration ranges from light to dark green, with some species capable of changing color, such as Agalychnis lemur , which transitions from green during the day to reddish-brown or orange-tan at night. Ventral colors vary between yellow, white, or orange. Body length spans from 30mm to 88mm. They have long, slender limbs, a flattened body, and a rounded head with a short snout. Their eyes are large and protruding, and their skin can be smooth or slightly bumpy. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Agalychnis species are found in the Neotropical region, occupying habitats across Central America and northern South America.

These frogs live in tropical forests, particularly in tree canopies, restricting their range to regions with dense vegetation. They rely on the forest cover for protection from predators and suitable locations for egg-laying. During breeding periods, they gather around ponds to deposit their eggs. While they primarily remain in the trees, they occasionally descend for reproductive purposes. [2]

Taxonomy

Current research indicates Agalychnis is closely related to the genus Phyllomedusa. Previously, it was classified under the name Pachymedusa. The following species are recognised in the genus Agalychnis: [1]

ImageScientific nameCommon nameDistribution
Golden-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis annae).jpg Agalychnis annae (Duellman, 1963)Blue-sided leaf frogCosta Rica and Panama
Agalychnis buckleyi.jpg Agalychnis buckleyi (Boulenger, 1882)Warty leaf frogColombia and Ecuador
Red eyed tree frog edit2.jpg Agalychnis callidryas (Cope, 1862)Red-eyed tree frogMexico, through Central America, to Colombia
Agalychnis Dacnicolor.jpg Agalychnis dacnicolor (Cope, 1864)Mexican leaf frogMexico
Agalychnis danieli.jpg Agalychnis danieli (Ruiz-Carranza, Hernández-Camacho, and Rueda-Almonacid, 1988)Antioquia leaf frogColombia
Agalychnis hulli.jpg Agalychnis hulli (Duellman and Mendelson, 1995)Cat-eyed frogNorth-eastern Peru, possibly in nearby Ecuador
Agalychnis lemur.jpg Agalychnis lemur (Boulenger, 1882)Lemur leaf frogCosta Rica, Panama and northern Colombia
Agalychnis medinae (Funkhouser, 1962)Rancho Grande leaf frogVenezuela
Agalychnis moreletii03.jpg Agalychnis moreletii (Duméril, 1853)Morelet's tree frogBelize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico
Agalychnis psilopygion.jpg Agalychnis psilopygion (Cannatella, 1980)Flecked tree frogSouthern Colombia and north-western Ecuador
Misfit leaf frog.jpg Agalychnis saltator Taylor, 1955Misfit leaf frognortheastern Honduras through Nicaragua to east-central Costa Rica
Agalychnis spurrelli.jpg Agalychnis spurrelli Boulenger, 1913Gliding leaf frogColombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama
Agalychnis taylori 205662574.jpg Agalychnis taylori Funkhouser, 1957Honduras, Guatemala, and southern Mexico
Agalychnis terranova Rivera-Correa, Duarte-Cubides, Rueda-Almonacid, and Daza-R., 2013Colombia

References

  1. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. "Agalychnis Cope, 1864". Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 Dresen, Josh. "Agalychnis". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2025-02-22.