Meet My Favorite Costa Rican Creatures

Frogs are different from toads in that they have thin, permeable skin. That means that water can enter their body through their skin. This makes them very fragile, and you have to be very careful not to handle them if you have bug spray on your hands. The chemicals can enter their skin very easily and hurt them.

Frogs also have four very long arms and legs and tiny little suction cups on the ends of their fingers and toes to stick to leaves and defy gravity! Their eyes stick out above their heads so they can keep their eyes above the water without exposing their bodies, like a sneaky submarine.

How did I feel when I saw it?:

I get so excited to spot these little creatures in the forest, and figure out what species I am seeing! The first frogs I saw here in Costa Rica were in a little room dedicated to educating people about all the different frogs. When I walked in, I could barely contain my excitement. I was surprised to find out that the frogs were not hopping from plant to plant. They actually seemed nowhere to be found. It turns out that because they are nocturnal, or night-dwelling, they were all sleeping when I visited. Since they are vulnerable to being eaten by many larger animals, they have to sleep with really good camouflage. They look just like little tiny leaves, all curled up and sleeping. 

Later, one frog woke up to change spots, and the biologist working let us hold it. I was even more excited to hold one up close. The tree frog's red eyes were enchanting, and I loved looking at them. The frog kept wanting to jump on me, which made me giggle a lot! 

Since frogs are so good at hiding, it makes me feel excited and fulfilled every time I spot them.

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