Photo by Bob Thomas.  Taken at Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad, November 2011.

Photo by Bob Thomas.  Taken at Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad, November 2008.

Photo by Bob Thomas.  Taken in Belize, May 2006.  Cacao leaves growth.

It is not uncommon to find new growth leaves in the tropics that appear to have no chlorophyll.  Some believe this is an adaptation to avoid insect predation in new growth, and many of these plants have toxins in their new foliage for further protection