Glass frogs are a unique group of tropical frogs that take camouflage to the next level! They have transparent bodies and possess “edge diffusion” camouflage – this creates a blurry silhouette in many cases, helping their frog shape to be less noticeable to predators. On top of that, many of them have transparent ventral (belly) sides, allowing internal organs to be seen, such as the heart beating and the intestines churning, much like watching a living frog dissection/surgery!
My favorite species of glass frog is the Granulosa Glass Frog (Cochranella granulosa). I love them because they often have a beautiful grainy blue-green sheen of color on their backs, and when at rest, typically sit out on top of a leaf, instead of hiding underneath it. They also have really cute faces.
In 2022 I was recognized as only the 2nd individual in the US to successfully breed this species in captivity. I continue to experiment with my rain chamber to create a variety of wet-dry shower patterns that this species seems to need for prolonged periods to stimulate ovulation in the females. I named my original wild-caught female “Millie.” The name Mildred means “gentle strength.” I am thrilled that in 2023 I was able to repeat this egg laying several times with Millie, as well as with 2 other wild- caught females, plus with 3 of Millie’s offspring, creating a 2nd generation of success. This allows me to document that my original success was not “just a fluke.”
Enjoy my collection of photos below!
Eggs
Tadpole
Adult
Millie
