New Granada cross-banded tree frog

"Masked tree frog" redirects here. For another species, see Smilisca manisorum.

New Granada cross-banded tree frog
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Genus:	Smilisca
Species:	S. phaeota
Binomial name
Smilisca phaeota (Cope, 1862)

The New Granada cross-banded tree frog (Smilisca phaeota), also known as the masked tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, plantations, rural gardens, urban areas, heavily degraded former forests, ponds, and canals and ditches.

Their nickname of masked tree frog comes from the black or dark colored markings that start at their nose and go back along the face toward their ear, covering their eye.

Because it goes across their eye, it can help with camouflage, as many predators find prey by their open eyes.

Masked tree frog resting during the day.

Smilisca phaeota, pictured here on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica

References

1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Smilisca phaeota". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T56008A54348918. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T56008A54348918.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.

Media related to Smilisca phaeota at Wikimedia Commons