Gliding Tree Frog
Agalychnis spurrelli
One of the most acrobatic frogs in the world. Famous for its extensive interdigital 'flying membranes' which it uses to glide dizzily from canopy trees down to the swamps below. Requires enormous, vertical terrariums, perfect humidity cycles, and excellent ventilation to avoid lethal eye infections.
- Taxonomy
- Class:AmphibiaOrder:AnuraFamily:PhyllomedusidaeSubfamily:PhyllomedusinaeGenus:AgalychnisSpecies:Agalychnis spurrelli
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Terrestrial
60 - 85 %
26 °C
23 °C
26 °C
>= 45 L
Low
Species description
Care, breeding and tankmates
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Origin
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- Insectivore
- Agalychnis spurrelli requires a well-balanced diet to maintain optimal health and vitality in captivity. Its feeding regimen should closely mimic its natural dietary habits in the wild, including proper vitamin and mineral supplementation. Providing appropriate portion sizes and maintaining a regular feeding schedule are crucial for its digestive health.
- Life expectancy
- 5-8 years
- The catalog uses 5–8 years as its concise reference range. AmphiBIO v1 instead reports a documented maximum longevity of 5.5 years for the species. An observed maximum is not the same as a typical expectation: specimen origin, sample size and husbandry conditions can explain differences among sources, so this figure should be read as a recorded limit rather than a promise of survival.
- Adult size
- 9 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 9 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 9.3 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- Arboreal
- Agalychnis spurrelli has adapted to a specific lifestyle that dictates the type of habitat it requires. It relies heavily on proper environmental enrichment, climbing structures, or burrowing substrates depending on its natural adaptations. Creating a terrarium that reflects these requirements allows the animal to thrive and minimizes captivity-related stress.
- Activity cycle
- Nocturnal
- The activity pattern of Agalychnis spurrelli is largely dictated by its natural rhythms and environmental cues. Knowing whether it is diurnal, nocturnal, or crepuscular is essential for providing appropriate lighting and heating schedules. Proper management of these cycles ensures the animal remains active, healthy, and exhibits natural foraging behaviors.
- Sociality
- Solitary
- Agalychnis spurrelli exhibits a variety of fascinating behaviors that can be observed both in the wild and in an enclosure. These behaviors range from territorial displays and communication methods to foraging strategies. Understanding these actions helps keepers provide a more enriching environment and detect any signs of stress early on.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- The reproductive cycle of Agalychnis spurrelli involves specific environmental triggers such as temperature and humidity changes. Successful breeding requires careful conditioning of both the male and female to ensure they are healthy. Once eggs or live young are produced, specialized care and incubation are often necessary for a high success rate.
- Toxicity
- Harmless
- The Gliding Tree Frog is generally considered non-toxic, relying more on camouflage and its gliding escape mechanism than chemical defenses. However, like many tree frogs, they can secrete mildly unpalatable skin peptides if stressed or attacked. These secretions are harmless to humans but underscore the importance of minimizing handling to avoid stressing the animal.
- Life stage
- Metamorphosis
- They begin life as aquatic tadpoles after dropping from their arboreal egg masses into the water below. The tadpole phase can last several weeks to months, depending heavily on water temperature and food availability. Once metamorphosis is complete, the young froglets quickly adopt the arboreal lifestyle of the adults, ascending into the surrounding vegetation.
- Handling tolerance
- Display only
- Should only be viewed, not handled. Handling disrupts their resting periods, damages their protective mucous coating, and can induce severe stress.
- Brumation
- They do not brumate, but their activity may be influenced by wet and dry seasons. In captivity, they require year-round tropical conditions.
- Molting
- Periodic
- Shedding is dependent on high humidity (70-90%). A dry environment will cause the shed skin to stick, leading to potentially fatal respiratory or skin infections.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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Variants and close relatives
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