\"SU CZ %BO .D(FFIBO.Springweather can be unpredictable ,changing from rainy to sunny in an instant .But 15items and shapes here are the same from one scene to the next We .predict you ll ’find them all!InsideandOut
It’s fun to meet someonefamous,evenifthat“someone” isn’taperson.Ihad seen pictures ofthered-eyedtreefroginallkinds of places—books,calendars, posters, magazines,andevenonT-shirts.Whata celebrity!Then I met Joanna Sakowicz,who is an expert frog keeper.And I met some red-eyed treefrogs “in person.”Reaching into a tall cage, Ms.Sakowicz revealed asleepingfroghuddled on theunderside of a leaf.These frogs are nocturnal They’re.active at night, and they sleepduring the day. As this one awoke,its big red eyes opened. I wasface-to-face with oneofthe world’smost beautiful species of frogs.Ms. Sakowicz lives in California,where shetakes her frogstoschools to teachkids about wildlifeand the environment—especially the rain forest.By Chris DietelRed-eyed tree frogs climb on plants and trees at night ,hunting for insects to eat.The Famous Red-Eyed Tree FrogTropical CreaturesMs. Sakowicz’s frogs were bred in captivity, but their naturalhome is in thetropical rain forestsofCentralAmerica. Red-eyed treefrogs are not endangered, but theirhabitat is shrinking as peoplecutdown rain forests to make room for farms and buildings.Inthewild,the frogs live wheretall trees grow high over densevegetation. Rain fallsoften, andthe air stays hot and moist.The frogs have many features that helpthem survive in theforest. The frogs’large toe pads actlike suction cupstohelp them climbamong the trees as they hunt forinsects to eat. Their skin turns darkatnight, making them less visibleto both predators and prey. Whendaylight comes, their skin lightensto pale green for better camouflage among the leaves.When a froghuddles on a leafto sleep, it hides its bright colors.Its big red eyes sink into hollow1IPUPT:pages 18 and 19 bottom()CZ J4UPDL 4BTDIB #VSLBSE/page19 top()J4UPDL (MPCBM1/.
spaces in its head, and it tucksits legs underneath its body.When Ms. Sakowicz nudgesa sleeping frog, its big red eyesbulge out and open, and itscolorful, lanky legs emerge fromunder its soft body.Why does thered-eyed treefrog have brightcolors? Thereare many possibilities. Maybepredators that try to eat a sleepingfrog don’t expect to see suchbrightcolors when the frog wakes up.This flash of color may startle apredator just long enoughfor thefrog to leap to safety.A Tiny Rain ForestThese frogs are so well adaptedto rain-forest life that they can’tsurvive anywhere else unlesssomeone takes care of them.At her home, Ms. Sakowicz hascreated a rain-forest environmentinatallcage, using tree branches,mosses, tropical plants, and asmall tub of purified water. Thisway she can watch the frogsdomany of the same things they doin thewild—such as climb, huntfor food, and dip into cool water todrink and keep their skin moist.Keeping red-eyed tree frogsred eyed tree frogsKeepinghealthy takes a lot of work.Ms. Sakowicz must keep the cagewarmer than her home becausethe rain forest is warmer than“room” temperature. To do this,she uses a heat lamp at the topof thecage. She must also spraymist into thecageto keep the airhumid, as it is in the rain forest.Frog FoodWild frogs eat a varietyof rain-forest insects, so it’stough to make sure that captivefrogs get the right nutrients.Ms. Sakowicz can’t use insectsfrom her backyard to feed thefrogs. Those insects may containparasites or small traces ofpoisons, such as insecticides.Instead, Ms. Sakowicz usesinsects that are specially bredforcaptive reptiles and amphibians.She gives tiny flies to youngfrogs, and she givescrickets toadults. Shefirst must “gut load” the crickets, which means she lets the cricketsfeast on grains and vegetables sothey will be healthy. From time totime, shealso dusts the cricketswith a vitamin powder beforedropping them into the cage.Ms. Sakowicz tells kids howher frogs climb about at night hunting for food. It’s fun towatch the frogs in the dim light,snatching crickets with theirshort, sticky tongues. With ahealthy diet and habitat, the frogscan grow to two and a half incheslong and may live several years.People love these frogs so muchlove these frogs so muchPeoplethat the amphibians have becomeasymbol of the effort to save theworld’s remaining rain forests.These forests are a precioushabitat for thousandsof species ofplants and animals, including thefamous red-eyed tree frog.Duringthe day these,frogs sleep ,huddled on leavesor flowers.The frogs ’large toe padsact like suctioncups to helpthem climb.
As part of our mission to help make the world a better placefor the children of today and tomorrow, Highlights is committedto making responsible business decisions that will protect our natural resources and reduce our environmental impact.AWARDSHighlightshas been given awards by The Associationof Educational Publishers, The Education Center, LLC, FamilyChoice Awards, Freedoms Foundation, Graphic Arts Association,iParenting Media, Magazine Design and Production, NationalAssociation for GiftedChildren, National Conference of Christiansand Jews, National Parenting Center, National Safety Council,Parents’ Choice, Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Awards, andPrinting Industry Association.HighlightsKids.comis a participant inthe Kids Privacy Safe Harbor program of the Children’s AdvertisingReview Unit (CARU) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.HL0517BFounded in 1946 by Garry C. Myers, Ph.D.,and Caroline Clark MyersEditor in Chief:Christine French CullyVice President, Magazine Group Editorial:Jamie BryantCreative Director:Marie O’NeillEditor:Judy BurkeArt Director:Patrick Greenish, Jr.Senior Editors:Joëlle Dujardin, Carolyn P. YoderAssociate Editor:Linda K. RoseAssistant Editor:Allison KaneCopy Editor:Joan Prevete HymanEditorial Assistant:Channing KaiserSenior Production Artist:Dave JusticeContributing Science Editor:Andrew BoylesEditorial Offices:803 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431-1895. E-mail: [email protected] submit manuscripts, go to Highlights.submittable.com.(Writers younger than 16: please use the postal address above.)CEO:Kent S. JohnsonVice President, International:Andy ShafranBusiness Offices:1800 Watermark Drive,P.O. Box 269, Columbus, OH 43216-0269.Copyright © 2017, Highlights for Children, Inc.All rights reserved.HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDRENis published monthly.ISBN 978-1-62979-819-6Designed for use in the classroom.Sometimes we make our list of customer names and addressesavailable to carefully screened companies whose products andservices might be of interest to you. We never provide children’snames. If you do not wish to receive these mailings, please contact us and include your account number.Printed by Webcrafters, Inc., Madison,WI.Periodical postage paid at Columbus, Ohio;Toronto, Ontario; and at additional mailing offices.U.S. Postmaster: Send address changes to Highlights for Children,P.O. Box 6038, Harlan, IA 51593-1538.Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40065670. Returnundeliverable Canadian addresses to P.O. Box 1255, Georgetown, ON L7G 4X7.To order, make a payment, change your address,or for other customer-service needs, such as changing your contact preference, please contact us:t 0OMJOF XXX )JHIMJHIUT DPNt $BMM t 8SJUF 1 0 #PY )BSMBO *\"
Search
