Common Name: New Granada Cross-banded Tree Frog, Masked Tree Frog, Tarraco Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Smilisca phaeota
Family: Hylidae – Tree Frog family
Location: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama
Female Size: 3 inches (7.6 cm)
Male Size: 2 inches (5.0 cm)
The New Granada Cross-banded Tree Frog is a nocturnal, arboreal species, sleeping on the backside of leaves during the day and being active at night. Their coloration ranges from tan to olive. Their black mask around their eyes is where they got their name from.
The male frogs call from small rain filled pools to attract the female frogs. Once the female frog arrives, the male grasps her from behind in amplexus. Then, the female frog lays her eggs and the male fertilizes them. The female frog lays up to 2000 eggs. The eggs hatch within 24 hours and the tadpoles take 60 to 80 days to complete their metamorphosis. Neither parent provides any care for their offspring.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the New Granada Cross-banded Tree Frog as Least Concern for Extinction. They have a large wide range and a presumed large population.