🐸 Glass Frog (Scientific Family: Centrolenidae)

🐸 Glass Frog (Scientific Family: Centrolenidae)

🧬 Overview

The glass frog gets its name from the translucent or transparent skin on its underside (belly), which makes it possible to see its internal organs — including the heart, liver, intestines, and sometimes even blood vessels — with the naked eye.

🌎 Habitat

Location: Central and South America
Found in countries like:
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
Environment: Moist tropical rainforests, often near streams or rivers, where they breed and lay eggs.

🧪 Physical Features

Size: Small (about 1.9 to 3 cm or 0.75 to 1.2 inches in length)
Color: Bright green on top to blend with leaves
Belly: Translucent or fully transparent
Eyes: Forward-facing, giving it a cartoon-like appearance

🧠 Why It’s So Interesting

You can literally see:
- Its heart beating
- Its food digesting
- Its tiny organs working in real time
Biologists and medical researchers are fascinated by glass frogs because they provide a natural “living window” into anatomy.

🐣 Reproduction & Parenting

Males call to attract females and defend their territory.
Eggs are laid on leaves overhanging streams.
Some male glass frogs guard the eggs, keeping them moist and safe from predators.
Once hatched, the tadpoles drop into the water below.

🛡️ Camouflage and Survival

The transparent belly makes it harder for predators below (like birds or fish) to see them.
Their backs are green, helping them blend with foliage from above.