Centrolenidae – Glass frogs

Fancy transparency? Bones, internal organs & a beating heart can be seen through the translucent skin!

The glass frog is a big supporter of transparency, as all of its internal organs are visible through its belly skin. These frogs, on the other hand, are translucent rather than transparent, with the skin on their backs often a bright green and their intestines and heart visible through their underbelly.

Translucency in frogs is a form of camouflage in which an animal’s edge blends in with its surroundings’ relative brightness or darkness. Glass frogs can be found high in the trees above mountain streams. As a result of green bile salts, some members of this family have green bones.