The blue-sided leaf frog belongs to the subfamily of clawed frogs, a subgroup of tree frogs. These animals are native to South and Central America and prefer tropical forests as their habitat.
A characteristic feature of all climbing frogs is their exceptional ability to climb. They can splay their first toe, which gives them a particularly firm grip. Furthermore, their vertically slit pupils are another typical feature of this family.
The blue-sided leaf frog is characterised by its bright green body colour, striking yellow eyes and blue flanks. It is found mainly in the tropical forests of Costa Rica and is considered to be endangered.
One of the greatest threats to this species is the chytrid fungus, an infectious fungus that affects the skin of many amphibians. It causes the horny layer to thicken, presumably as a defensive reaction by the body. However, this change impairs essential bodily functions such as thermoregulation, water uptake and oxygen exchange via the skin, which drastically reduces the affected animals’ chances of survival.
The chytrid fungus not only poses a threat to tropical amphibians, but also presents serious threats in Switzerland. In order, amongst other things, to prevent its unintentional distribution, offspring rearing is only permitted with a special licence, and under no circumstances may amphibians – whether eggs, larvae or adult animals – be removed from water bodies and released elsewhere.
Taxonomy
(Phyllomedusinae, genus Agalychnis (13 species)
Habitat
tropical rainforests in Costa Rica
Behaviour and ecology
nocturnal
