When I first conceived an artificial rainforest in my backyard I hoped we would see life reproduce, not only the plants, but in the rainforest animals we planned to introduce into the Exotic Rainforest.  One evening in late May of 2006, over four years after this experiment began, I was delighted to see it had begun to happen!  We had seen baby anoles (lizards) from time to time, but none of the 30 or more tree frogs (3 species) had ever reproduced.  At least none of which we were aware.   I often go into the rainforest after dark and listen to the crickets as the frogs bark and croak.  But on a few evenings before this night I realized I was hearing something new.  Baby frogs!  I had no idea which species had reproduced in the pond. Then, suddenly there they were, two tiny Tree Frogs.  One (the center photo) was barely 1 inch long and was likely a Barking Tree Frog.  The second (in the inset lower right) was about 50% larger at 1 ½ inches and probably also a Barking Tree Frog.  And both were sitting on the same White Bird of Paradise leaf.  The younger one was hungry.  His abdomen was sunken and he showed signs of being in search of a meal.  It was likely he had only emerged from the pond, 6 feet away, in the past day.  The older was well fed.  That was because we release approximately 1500 baby crickets into the atrium once every month.  And today was feeding day!  One new healthy baby Barking Tree Frog had already found his evening meal.  The following day another less than two inch baby (upper left) jumped right into my hands and then continued onto a leaf just below where I found it resting.  From the color and its eye shape and color I believe this one is a Green Tree Frog.  It appears two species had reproduced but we'll have to watch them grow awhile to make a final decision.    I had no doubt the tiniest would be feeding in just a few minutes!  The cycle of life in the Exotic Rainforest had begun to renew itself.  And I was ecstatic!

All three baby frogs were photographed on a leaf of one of our Bird of Paradise.  The photo can take you there.