Sometimes known as the veined tree frog, the common milk frog makes its home in a variety of habitats from subtropical to pastureland to marshes and plantations.

Sometimes known as the veined tree frog, the common milk frog makes its home in a variety of habitats from subtropical to pastureland to marshes and plantations.

Distribution

Because the Milk Frog can adapt to a number of different environments, it is found in almost every country and in multiple environments of Central and South America. The species found in Costa Rica survives in lowland premontane forests, wet forests, mangrove swamps, freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, arable land, pastures, plantations, rural gardens, urban areas, heavily degraded former forest, water storage areas, ponds etc.

Mating & Reproduction

Breeding occurs at the end of the rainy season when the smaller male frogs call out to their larger female counterparts with large paired vocal sacs. The pair mates via amplexus in shallow water, in bromeliads or in trees. Amplexus is where the male mounts the female from behind.

The female will later deposit a number of eggs into a large film in water which usually hatches a day later. Tadpoles spend around 37 days or more as one finned swimmers before metamorphosing.

Behavior

Milk Frogs generally eat at night, because they are nocturnal. These frogs commonly stay hidden in the day in Bromeliads, trees and under bark, and, generally, they are an arboreal species of frog. At night, Milk Frogs will emerge to look for arthropods, ants or other invertebrates.

The frogs contain a noxious milky secretion which can be extremely painful if contact is made. The glands that produce the toxic secretions are filled more significantly in the dry season. They are also able to parachute, because of the large paired vocal sacs that Milk Frogs have.

Miscellaneous Info

The taxonomical information about this species has changed a number of times over the course of history. It was previously known as Phyrnohyas Venulosus, and has more than forty different synonymous scientific names that is or has been known by.

Milk Frogs are the only frogs in Costa Rica with secreting glands on the dorsal section of their bodies.

Where to see it in Costa Rica: Cabo Blanco Refuge, Corcovado National Park, Tortuguero National Park
Diet: arthropods, ants, invertebrates
Habitat: lowland premontane forests, wet forests, mangrove swamps
Size: length=101 mm-104 mm weight=undefined
Species: Trachycephalus Venulosus