This species is known for its bright coloration, namely its vibrant green body with blue and yellow stripes on the side.

Its bright coloration can thus be more attributed to camouflage amongst the greenery of the surrounding jungle, as well as the “startle reflex,” which it can use to dissuade predators.

These frogs have a distinct temperature requirement and need a body of water to reproduce, and are thus only found in humid lowlands and rainforests of South and Central America.

Their feet are bright orange and have suction cups which help them adhere to the bottom of leaves where they spend most of their time.

Additionally, they have a gland that secretes mucus on the outermost layer of their skin to resist water loss and offer some defense against infections.

They do not have a true eyelid, but rather a nictitating membrane that allows light to enter the eye so that they will awaken when predators are approaching.

Red-eyed tree frogs have variation in the color of their side stripes, which in Costa Rica and Panama specifically includes blue, blue/red, orange and purple.

[10] Red-eyed tree frogs blend in easily with the vegetation of tropical rainforests due to them being green color.

[12] Other synapomorphies of this genus include the presence of a red hue on the iris and a golden reticulated palpebral membrane.

[16] Adult red-eyed tree frogs are primarily carnivores, eating crickets, moths, grasshoppers, flies, mosquitoes, and other insects.

[20] There is a critical window after metamorphosis where carotenoids improve female growth rate and fecundity, and lead to a redder skin in both sexes.

[27] Red-eyed tree frog eggs may hatch early (exhibiting phenotypic plasticity) when a change in the environment signals a danger to their survival.

After metamorphosis, the color of tadpoles' torsos changes from green to brown, and their eyes, which are initially yellow, turn into deep red without much side patterning.

Females will choose mates based on visual and auditory clues, mainly the male frogs' croaking calls as well as their size and flank stripe.

Females use the call, as well as color (specifically, the stripped sides) of the male frog, in order to find a possible mate.

[34] Red-eyed tree frogs' embryos exhibit phenotypic plasticity, hatching early in response to disturbance to protect themselves.

[25] However, a simultaneously early hatching in entire clutches is triggered when embryos are exposed to their predators or threatening environmental changes such as rainstorm and flood.

Studies show that this strategy is multifaceted and a specific combination of vibrational pulse duration and inter-pulse intervals is needed in order for embryos to exhibit this response.

Since these frogs usually lay eggs on both the upper and the undersides of leaves above ponds, clutches need to protect themselves against arboreal, aerial and aquatic predators, such as snakes, dragonflies, fish, monkeys, and pathogenic fungi.

[25][40] Since eggs are usually laid above ponds, the response improves survival because tadpoles often fall into water on hatching.

[42][43] However, as with all frogs and toads, the species still faces challenges from chytrid fungus, logging, and residential development.

Wild tadpoles have experienced die-offs due to ranavirus, and subpopulations in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama are threatened by capture for the international pet trade.