The Brilliant Forest Frog has an interesting defense mechanism hidden on its underside which allows it to use its flashy colors to distract would be predators.

Distribution

These medium sized frogs are found in Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama. They can be found in large populations near streams in lowland humid forests, montane forests and gallery forests. They have also been found living a little bit removed from streams in smaller forested areas.

Mating & Reproduction

These frogs do not have a particular time of year in which they mate. They mate year round, and have a low soft trill sound that they make during the day in order to communicate.

Brilliant Forest Frogs attach their eggs to the bottom of rocks near streams and small bodies of water. The Brillian Forest Frog Tadpole has an elongated tail which makes it one of the largest species of frog at that stage of its life with a total length of around 4 ½ inches from head to tail. The tail forms part of the body during metamorphosis, and the frog reaches from 52 to 63 mm in length depending on its sex.

Behavior

Brilliant Forest Frogs are terrestrial, and can be found hopping about the forest underbrush. They eat ants, arthropods and other small invertebrates that they find while traversing the forest. Brilliant Forest Frogs also have a unique form of defense where they use the various colors of their pelt to confuse and throw off a predator. It looks something like a dance.

Miscellaneous Info

Brilliant Forest Frogs have a somewhat pointed snout, and there shape is a little bit sleeker than other frogs. The frogs are golden brown with large and small patches of green and blue. In recent years, the Brilliant Forest Frog has suffered from a declining population, but that is currently changing and the population is increasing. Brilliant Forest Frogs may have fallen prey to the disease chytridiomycosis which is caused by a fungus.

Where to see it in Costa Rica: Tortuguero National Park, Carrara National Park, La Selva Biological Station, Corcovado National Park
Diet: ants, arthropods, small invertebrates
Habitat: humid forests, montane forests & gallery forests
Size: length=52-63 mm weight¬=undefined
Species: Lithobates Warszewitschii