Adelophryne gutturosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adelophryne gutturosa |
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The Adelophryne gutturosa, also known as the Guiana Shield frog, is a tiny species of frog. It belongs to the family called Eleutherodactylidae.
You can find this small frog in the Guiana Shield region. This area stretches from eastern Venezuela across Guyana to French Guiana and parts of Brazil (specifically Amapá). It might also live in Suriname. The first place this frog was officially found and described was Mount Roraima. In Spanish, people sometimes call it ranita guturosa.
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Understanding the Guiana Shield Frog
This section helps you learn more about the Guiana Shield frog. We'll look at how scientists study it and what it looks like.
How Scientists Classify This Frog
Scientists use a system called taxonomy to group living things. This helps them understand how different species are related.
Recent studies using DNA have shown something interesting. Scientists now think that what we call Adelophryne gutturosa might actually be more than one species. This means there could be several very similar types of these frogs that look alike but are genetically different.
What Does the Guiana Shield Frog Look Like?
These frogs are very small! Adult males are about 12 to 15 millimeters long. That's roughly the size of your fingernail. Females are a bit bigger, measuring about 13 to 16 millimeters.
Body Features
- Head: The frog's snout (nose area) is flat at the end. Its head is a little wider than its body.
- Ears: It has a small, but clear, tympanum. This is like its eardrum.
- Skin: The skin on its body is smooth.
- Color: The top part of its body, called the dorsum, is light brown. The sides of its body are black.
- Hands and Feet: Its fingers have pointed tips that are not perfectly even. Its toes also have pointed tips, but they have grooves and are not perfectly even either.
- Males: Male frogs have a large vocal sac under their throat. They use this sac to make calls.
Where the Guiana Shield Frog Lives and How It's Protected
The Guiana Shield frog lives in specific places within the rainforest. It also has some protection efforts in place.
Where Does It Live?
This frog prefers to live in the rainforest. You can find it on the forest floor, usually hidden among dead leaves. They like areas near streams. These frogs can live at many different elevations, from about 40 meters to 2,200 meters above sea level.
Male frogs often call out from hidden spots. They might be at the bottom of plants, like certain types of Monotagma, hiding among roots and dead leaves.
Is This Frog in Danger?
The Guiana Shield frog is not very common. However, it's also quite secretive, which makes it hard for scientists to find and count them.
Good news! Scientists have not found any major threats that are putting this frog in danger right now. Also, many of the places where it lives are inside national parks. These parks help protect the frogs and their homes.
