Amazon Milk Frog
TYPE: Amphibian
STATUS:
Least Concern
QUICK STATS
Body size
4 inches long (max.)
native habitat
Tropical rainforests of South America
life expectancy
8 – 16 years
diet
Insects, small vertebrates
Reproduction
Up to 2000 eggs per clutch
predators
Snakes, birds, lizards, mammals
natural defenses
Milky, poisonous substance
About the Species
This species gets its name “milk” frog from the milky substance they secrete from their glands when threatened.
The Amazon milk frog, also known as “mission golden-eyed” tree frog, spends its entire life in the canopy.
Amazon milk frogs have sticky toe pads to aid in climbing trees.
Even during the breeding season, they do not come out of the trees.
Males stake out a tree hole or bromeliad that is full of water and call to females.
A female then comes and lays her eggs, which the male fertilizes. Finally, males actually then call for a second female, who lays eggs which become unfertilized food for the tadpoles.
Trachycephalus resinifictrix
The Amazon milk frog is also known as “sapo canoeiro,” meaning “boatman frog.” Their croak sounds like oars tapping the side of a canoe!
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