Freaky Frog Photos: A Kaleidoscope of Colors (Gallery)

Julie Larsen Maher is staff photographer for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the first woman to hold the position since the society's founding in 1895. In addition to field visits, Maher photographs the animals at WCS's five New York-based wildlife parks: the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo. She contributed this article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Frogs are nature's jewels. Their unique colors and patterns are not only beautiful, but aid in their survival — as camouflage or as a warning to predators. WCS's parks, including the Bronx Zoo and its World of Reptiles, are home to a variety of frogs like these, some smaller than a dime. Frog populations are disappearing in the wild, with more than 40 percent of amphibian species in decline. Part of that collapse is from the global demand for pet frogs, and many are captured to be eaten. Frogs also face threats from habitat loss; the devastating, toxic chytrid fungus; competition from invasive species; pollution; and climate change. However, conservationists continue to play an important role in protecting these amphibians. (Images credit: Julie Larsen Maher ©WCS.)

Hangin' around

Red-eyed tree frogs, Agalychnis callidryas, are colorful amphibians found in the tropical lowlands of Central America where the animals hunt after dark for their insect prey. The frogs are arboreal and are commonly be found on plants and trees.

Humble beginnings

Lemur leaf tadpoles, Agalychnis lemur, are purple-gray with a rosy-colored center body. Their transparent fins will morph to legs as they become adult frogs.

I can see you now ...

Lemur leaf frogs, Agalychnis lemur, are tree frogs from Costa Rica, Columbia and Panama that spend their days sleeping on the undersides of leaves. Males defend their territory by grabbing intruder frogs and pushing them off their perches.

Here to help

The common coqui, Eleutherodactylus coqui, are diminutive grayish-brown frogs native to Puerto Rico. Coqui lay their eggs on land, where the babies hatch directly into sub-adult frogs, skipping the tadpole stage that most amphibians experience.

A unique sight

Amazon milk frogs, Trachycephalus resinifictrix, are arboreal and nocturnal. The males are known for their boisterous calls, which they usually make from watery pools in tree hollows. Their tadpoles also develop in such hollows.

Sitting pretty

Native to Australia and New Guinea, White's tree frogs, Litoria caerulea, have unique skin secretions with antibacterial and antiviral properties that help to guard against infections.

Good mom

Panamanian golden frogs, Atelopus zeteki, have a variety of toxins that protect them from predators. Although the adults are yellow, the young are a bright green, which helps them blend into their mossy stream habitat.

Can you see me now?

Sometimes called bumblebee frogs, yellow banded poison frogs, Dendrobates leucomelas, are native to Venezuela, Columbia and Brazil. Each frog has its own unique set of markings, like a human fingerprint. They can secrete a toxin when threatened.

Posing for a photo shoot

Blue poison frogs, Dendrobates tinctorius "azureus," can live as many as seven years in the wilds of Suriname and Brazil. As their name indicates, glands within the frog's skin are filled with poison — a defense against predators.

Sneakin' suspicion

Surinam horned frogs, Ceratophrys cornuta, from South America are large amphibians with big mouths — their mouths are one and a half times wider than the length of their bodies. The size of their mouths is useful in catching favorite foods like mice and lizards.

From far and wide

Solomon Island leaf frogs, Ceratobatrachus guentheri, live on the forest floor in the tropical forests of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, where they lay their eggs in leaf litter. The eggs undergo direct development with no tadpole stage.

Beware the frog

Pichincha poison frogs, Oophaga sylvatica, found in Columbia and Ecuador, lay a small clutch of only two to five eggs at a time. Once hatched, the female frogs carry individual, mature tadpoles on their backs to nearby small pools of water.

For more animal photos and stories, check out WCS's photo blog, Wild View, including the posts Frog Blog – Bright Warnings and A Place in the Forest. Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates — and become part of the discussion — on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This version of the article was originally published on Live Science.