Bright-eyed frog (Boophis calcaratus)

Cute Frog of the Week: July 11, 2011

The quiet that falls over forests in eastern Madagascar with the arrival of night is interrupted by the bright-eyed frog (Boophis calcaratus). This tiny nocturnal frog sounds its calls from its perch in the branches on the outskirts of forests and degraded rainforests. Not all of their time is spent hanging around in the trees, however. They can also be found on the ground, usually near pools of freshwater.

Since this frog is most active from sunset to sunrise, it can be difficult to see with its brown spots and banding. A little light would illuminate how the frog got its name: its eyes. Its large pupils are surrounded by vivid irises. Scientists are not sure why the frogs have such colorful blue-green irises, but they do know that frog species within the Boophis genus can be identified by their eye color, in addition to their calls.

Photo by Gonçalo M. Rosa via ARKive.

Every week the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project posts a new photo of a cute frog from anywhere in the world with an interesting, fun and unique story to tell. Be sure to check back every Monday for the latest addition.

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