A male tungara frog

f/2.8  1/125  ISO100 100mm

Despite its toad-like appearance Physalaemus

pustulosus is in fact a frog and a prolific

frog at that. This is one of the most abundant and 

broadly distributed amphibians in the neotropics. 

In pursuit of this honor males congregate at ephemeral 

pools of rainwater during the wet season and chorus to 

attract females, whom control mate choice and select 

males on the basis of a male's song. As with males of most 

animal species, a male tungara frog spends considerable 

time courting with little, if any, mating opportunity.

Hyla ebraccata calls above embryos

f/10  1/100  ISO100 100mm

more Scinax rubra

f/3.2  1/100th  ISO 100  100mm

Scinax rubra considers flight.

Scinax rubra

f/4.0  1/100  ISO 100  100mm

This Scinax species is famous for its willingness

to jump off tall aerial stuctures, gliding down

to the earth safely with its body stretched out

like a base-jumper. 

Hyla rosenbergi, Gladiator Tree Frog

f/5.6  ISO 100  100mm 1/100th

I believe this species is the most affectionate of 

Panama's frogs - you can see the personality in

their eyes. It is not uncommon for a gladiator 

to lunge from a branch onto a human observer, 

climbing up onto one's shoulder and perching 

patiently for an opportunity to sing. Precious. 

Leptodactylus labialis y aguacate

Panamá, 2006

This image is the 4th in a series that belongs to

"Tropical frogs and fruit: disingenuous color
combinations from the forests and streetstalls of
Panama"

Agalychnis callidryas y maracujá

Panamá, 2006

This image is the 3rd in a series that belongs to

"Tropical frogs and fruit: disingenuous color
combinations from the forests and streetstalls of
Panama"

Hyla ebraccata y piña

Panamá, 2006

This image is the 2nd in a series that belongs to

"Tropical frogs and fruit: disingenuous color
combinations from the forests and streetstalls of
Panamá"

Agalychnis callidryas y granadilla

Panamá, 2006

This is the first image in a series that belongs to

"Tropical frogs and fruit: disingenuous color
combinations from the forests and streetstalls of
Panamá"

Smilisca phaeota: a glance

ISO 100 f/2.8 1/20 100mm macro
June 2007, Panamá

Seeing Sound

ISO 100 1/125 f/16 100mm macro

The nighttime serenade of the male tungara frog has
visual, acoustic, and aquatic vibration components.

Jamaican Fruit Eating Bat on the Wing

ISO 100 1/100 f/8 100mm macro

Hyla rufitela, Red Webbed Tree Frog

ISO 100 1/100 f/9 100mm macro

This kaliedoscopically colored tree frog advertises
vocally from leaves hanging above small tropical
streams.

Jamaican Fruit Eating Bat

ISO 100 1/100 f/8 100 mm macro

Tungara Turf War

ISO 100 1/125 f/10 100 mm macro

Metamorphic Hourglass Tree Frog

ISO 100 1/100 f/3.5 100 mm macro

Leptodactylus pentadactylus, The Smoki Jungle Frog or South American Bullfrog

ISO 100 1/125 f/2.8 100mm macro

As the largest of the neotropical frogs, the muscular
L. pentadactylus preys on other frog species and is largely
left alone by predators due to a toxic skin secretion.

emerald eyes - deep and bright inside

ISO 100 1/50 f/4.0 100mm macro

Tungara Magic!

Gamboa, Panama 2006

Phrog and Frotographer

ISO 400 1/100 f/2.8 20mm

- I wonder

Smilisca phaeota

ISO 100 1/6 f/3.5 100mm

Portrait of a masked tree frog.

Atta sp., Leafcutter Ant

ISO 200 1/100 f/20 100mm

Smilisca phaeota, Water Conservation Posture

ISO 100 f/2.5 1/3 100mm

Unknown Beetle

ISO 200 1/125 f/18 100mm
Gamboa, Panama 2005

Unknown beetle species photographed at a frog
chorus pond.

Morninglight

ISO 100 1/2 f/14 20mm
Gamboa, Panama 2006

A long exposure of diffuse light showering
through the canopy understory.

Megalopta byroni

ISO 100 1/100 f/18 100mm
Gamboa, Panama 2005

This sweat bee is a brood parasite on related bees
in the genus Megalopta. In response to these threats
it appears as if the bee species attacked have evolved
nocturnalism to reduce this parasite's impact.
Capturing stationary images of flying insects like this
bee requires photographing the animal the instant
before it buzzes off.

Smilisca phaeota: Perspective

ISO 100 1/25 f/2.8 100mm

Smilisca phaeota, Masked Tree Frog

ISO 100 1/8 f/2.8 100mm
Gamboa, Panama 2007

This masked tree frog is adopting a "water conservation
posture" and in doing so the animal reduces surface to
air contact, minimizing evaporation from its skin.
Despite being a visually gorgeous frog, its a surprise
that its hoarse mating call doesn't repel females.

Dendrobates auratus, Green and Black Poison Frog

ISO 100 1/20 f/18 100mm
Barro Colorado Island, Panama 2007

Unlike most frogs this mildly toxic poison frog is active
during the day. Unless moving on the forest floor or
inside a treehole, these frogs are difficult to detect.
Notoriously unwilling to pose for the photographer,
their highly contrasting coloration also makes them
difficult to capture with a single exposure.

Partly Cloudy on the Panama Canal

ISO 100 1/100 f/22 20mm
Panama Canal, 2007

The translucent green waters of the Canal are a
terrific temperature for swimming, and to do so amongst
large crocodilians and transoceanic freight ships
reminds one of life's palpability.