Reading and vocabulary. Reticulated Glass Frog

A small frog the length of a quarter leaps from one plant leaf to another, flaunting its little belly as it soars. The skin on the frog’s underside is see-through. So as the amphibian jumps you can view some of its internal organs, including its beating heart. This is a reticulated glass frog, a creature that has a lot of supercool secrets to reveal.

Reticulated glass frogs can be found in the rain forests of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. These animals, which are active    [at, in] night, inhabit vegetation along streams. Males can        [get, to get] pretty territorial, making squeaking noises to warn trespassing frogs to stay away from their leafy hangout spots. If an intruder doesn’t leave, the frog              [wrestle, will wrestle] it to show who’s boss.

Males are also very protective of their mates’ eggs. Females lay a mass of eggs (called a clutch) on the underside     [of, for] leaves, sticking them in place with a jelly-like substance. Afterward, the females leave and the males go on guard duty. They watch the eggs 24/7 until they hatch, protecting them from enemies such as wasps. The frog has even been known to kick away wasps that get     [to, too] close to the egg cluster!

Scientists still aren’t sure why these frogs have see-through skin on their undersides. But they think the spotted pattern on the backs of the amphibians is meant to resemble a mass of eggs. This            pattern helps the males         their           by confusing           trying to get at the clutch. Sounds like these eggs are in good webbed hands!