Bright surprises

Red, green, blue, yellow, orange – this frog’s striking colours are a sight to behold. Not only do they give these creatures a vibrant appearance, they also function as a defence mechanism. Predators get momentarily shocked when they see the flash of colours, giving the frog precious time to escape.

Nocturnal and non-venomous, red-eyed tree frogs live in southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

With a stunning pinkish-coral hue, a brilliant red beak, and shades of blue, orange and white, this bird is truly a pocket-sized rainbow. No wonder then that it one of the most brightly coloured of all kingfishers. This bird lives in Southeast Asia, South China and the Indian Subcontinent. Have you ever spotted it around your area?

At 4-6 mm in length with impressive jumping skills, these Australian natives are tiny wonders. They stand out because males have a dazzling, colourful flap on their abdomen. There are more than 80 species of peacock spiders and they all look stunning.

In the rainforests of Central and South America live poison dart frogs in a range of bright colours – yellow, orange, red, green, blue. Beware, for they are one of the world’s most toxic species. Their striking colours are warning signs for potential predators.

With colours such as lilac, green, white, black, yellow, turquoise, blue, all packed in one bird, the lilac-breasted roller is a lovely sight. Found in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Arabian peninsula, this swift flier is the national bird of Kenya.

If you think butterflies are beautiful, take a look at these gorgeous insects. They sport glittery metallic colours, giving them the nickname ’emerald wasp’ or ‘jewel wasp’. Don’t let their pretty colours distract you though, for they are sinister parasites!