Red-Eyed Tree Frog Facts

Red-Eyed Tree Frog Facts The red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidrayas) is a small, non-poisonous tropical frog. The scientific name of the frog derives from the Greek words kalos (beautiful) and dryas (wood nymph). The name refers to the frogs vibrant coloration. Fast Facts: Red-Eyed Tree Frog Scientific Name: Agalychnis callidryasCommon Name: Red-eyed tree frogBasic Animal Group: AmphibianSize: 2-3 inchesWeight: 0.2-0.5 ouncesLifespan: 5 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Central AmericaPopulation: AbundantConservation Status: Least Concern Description The red-eyed tree frog is a small arboreal species. Adult males are smaller (2 inches) than adult females (3 inches). Adults have orange-red eyes with verticals slits. The frogs body is bright green with blue and yellow stripes on the sides. The species has webbed feet with orange or red toes. The toes have sticky pads that help the animals stick to leaves and branches. Habitat and Distribution Red-eyed tree frogs live in humid climates in trees near ponds and rivers in southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. They occur from Veracruz and Oaxaca in Mexico to Panama and northern Columbia. The frogs have a relatively narrow temperature range requirement, so they only live in the rain forests and lowlands. Ideally, they require a daytime temperature from 75 to 85  °F (24 to 29  Ã‚ °C) and nighttime temperature from 66 to 77  Ã‚ °F (19 to 25  Ã‚ °C). Red-eyed tree frog distribution. Darekk2 Diet Tree frogs are insectivores that mainly hunt at night. They feed upon flies, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, and other insects. They are preyed upon by dragonflies, fish, snakes, monkeys, birds, and a variety of other predators. They are also susceptible to fungal infections. Behavior The frogs red eyes are used for a startle display called deimatic behavior. During the day, the frog camouflages itself by flattening its body against a leaf bottom so only its green back is exposed. If the frog is disturbed it flashes its red eyes and reveals its colored flanks and feet. The coloring may surprise a predator long enough for the frog to escape. While some other tropical species are poisonous, camouflage and the startle display are the red-eyed tree frogs only defense. Tree frogs use vibration to communicate. Males quiver and shake leaves to mark territory and attract females. During the day, the frog folds its colored legs beneath it. If disturbed, it opens its eyes to startle predators. Ferdinando valverde / Getty Images Reproduction and Offspring Mating occurs from autumn to early spring, during the peak rainfall period. Males gather around a body of water and make a chack call to attract a mate. The egg-laying process is called amplexus. During amplexus, the female carries one or more males on her back. She draws water into her body to use to lay a clutch of around 40 gel-like eggs on a leaf overhanging water. The best-positioned male fertilizes the eggs externally. If the eggs are not disturbed, they hatch within six to seven days, dropping the tadpoles into the water. However, red-eyed tree frog eggs exhibit a strategy called phenotypic plasticity, in which eggs hatch early if their survival is threatened. Tree frogs lay their eggs on leaves over water. The tadpoles fall into the water when they hatch.  ©Juan Carlos Vindas / Getty Images The yellow-eyed, brown tadpoles remain in the water for a few weeks to months, depending on environmental conditions. They change to adult colors after metamorphosis. The red-eyed tree frog lives about five years in the wild. The species will breed in captivity in a high-humidity environment with tropical plants, controlled lighting (11-12 hours daylight), and controlled temperature (26 to 28  Ã‚ °C day and 22 to 35  Ã‚ °C night). Breeding is initiated by simulating a rainy season. Captive-bred frogs often live longer than five years. Conservation Status Due to its large habitat range and protected status in some areas, the IUCN classifies the species as Least Concern. Red-eyed tree frogs are also abundant in captivity. However, the species does face challenges from deforestation, pollution, and pet trade collection. In the wild, the frogs population is decreasing. Sources Badger, David P. Frogs. Stillwater (Minn.): Voyageur Press, 1995. ISBN 9781610603911.Caldwell, Michael S.; Johnston, Gregory R.; McDaniel, J. Gregory; Warkentin, Karen M. Vibrational Signaling in the Agonistic Interactions of Red-Eyed Treefrogs. Current Biology. 20 (11): 1012–1017, 2010. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2010.03.069Savage, Jay M. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Herpetofauna Between Two Continents, Between Two Seas. University of Chicago Press, 2002. ISBN 0-226-73537-0.Solà ­s, Frank; Ibà ±ez, Roberto; Santos-Barrera, Georgina; Jungfer, Karl-Heinz; Renjifo, Juan Manuel; Bolaà ±os, Frederico. Agalychnis callidryas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2008: e.T55290A11274916. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T55290A11274916.enWarkentin, Karen M. The development of behavioral defenses: a mechanistic analysis of vulnerability in red-eyed treefrog hatchlings. Behavioral Ecology. 10 (3): 251–262. 1998. doi:10.1093/beheco/10.3.251

Private Schools in Westchester County, New York

Private Schools in Westchester County, New York Westchester County, north of New York City, is home to several private schools. This list concentrates on non-parochial college-prep private schools. Hackley School Founded in 1899Located in Tarrytown840 Students, Grades K-12 Hackley School was founded in 1899 by Mrs. Caleb Brewster Hackley, a Unitarian leader who dedicated the mansion where she summered to start the school. The school was originally a boarding school for boys from a broad variety of economic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. In 1970, the school became co-ed and, from 1970 to 1972, added a K-4 program. The boarding program is now a five-day program. The school, which now enrolls 840 students K-12, has a rigorous academic program and 62 sports teams, building on the schools tradition of having an early football team. The school has always valued community and the power of friendship. The schools mission reads as follows, Hackley challenges students to grow in character, scholarship, and accomplishment, to offer unreserved effort, and to learn from the varying perspectives and backgrounds in our community and the world. Students tend to score well on Advanced Placement (AP) exams, and the middle 50% of a recent graduating class ranged from 1280-1460 on the Math and Critical Reading sections of the SAT (out of a possible 1600). According to the headmaster, Diversity is fundamental to our understanding of what good education is and one of the hallmarks of our communitys culture. Masters School Founded in 1877Located in Dobb Ferry588 Students, Grades 5-12 Located in Dobbs Ferry, 30 miles from New York City, Masters School was founded in 1877 by Eliza Bailey Masters, who wanted her students, who were girls, to have a serious classical education and not just the education provided by a typical finishing school. As a result, the girls at the school studied Latin and math, and by the turn of the century, the curriculum became college-preparatory in nature. The school attracted boarding students from across the country. In 1996, the school became co-ed in the Upper School, and an all-boys middle school was created to exist alongside the all-girls middle school. The Upper School also started to use oval-shaped Harkness tables and their attendant discussion-based teaching style, which originated at Phillips Exeter Academy. The school also began the CITY term , a semester program that uses New York City as a learning laboratory. The school now enrolls 588 students from grades 5-12 (boarding and day) and recently built a new science and technology center. Twenty-five percent of students receive financial aid. The schools mission reads, The Masters School provides a challenging academic environment that encourages critical, creative, and independent habits of thought and a lifelong passion for learning. The Masters School promotes and celebrates academic achievement, artistic development, ethical action, athletic endeavor, and personal growth. The School maintains a diverse community that encourages students to participate actively in decisions affecting their lives and to develop an appreciation of their responsibilities to the larger world. Rye Country Day School Founded in 1869Located in Rye850 Students, Grades PK-12 RCDS was founded in 1869 when local parents invited a schoolmaster named Reverend William Life and his wife, Susan, to Rye to educate their daughters. Opened as the Rye Female Seminary, the school began to concentrate on preparing girls for college. In 1921, the school merged with the all-boys Rye Country School to form the Rye Country Day School. Today, 850 students in grades Pre-K through 12 attend the school. Fourteen percent of its students receive financial aid. The schools mission reads as follows, Rye Country Day School is a coeducational, college preparatory school dedicated to providing students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 with an excellent education using both traditional and innovative approaches. In a nurturing and supportive environment, we offer a challenging program that stimulates individuals to achieve their maximum potential through academic, athletic, creative and social endeavors. We are actively committed to diversity. We expect and promote moral responsibility, and strive to develop strength of character within a respectful school community. Our goal is to foster a lifelong passion for learning, understanding, and service in an ever-changing world. Rippowam Cisqua: A PreK-9 School Founded in 1916Located in Mount Kisco (the Lower School campus)Located in Bedford (the Middle School campus)521 Students, Grades PK-9 Rippowam was founded in 1916 as the Rippowam School for Girls. In the early 1920s, the school became co-ed, and it later merged with the more progressive Cisqua School in 1972. The school now has an average class size of 18 students, and a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:5. Many of the schools graduates go on to attend top boarding schools and local day schools. The schools mission reads as follows: The mission of Rippowam Cisqua School is to educate students to become independent thinkers, confident in their abilities and themselves. We are committed to a dynamic program of academics, the arts, and athletics, and support an engaged faculty to challenge students to discover and explore their talents to the fullest. Honesty, consideration, and respect for others are fundamental to Rippowam Cisqua. In an atmosphere that promotes intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of learning, Rippowam Cisqua strives to instill in students a strong sense of connection to their community and to the larger world. We, as a school, recognize the common humanity of all people and teach understanding and respect for the differences among us.