Afrixalus lacteus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Afrixalus lacteus |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
Afrixalus lacteus is a special kind of frog that belongs to the family Hyperoliidae. It's also known as the Cameroon banana frog. This frog is found only in Cameroon, a country in Africa. It lives on a few mountains in the western part of Cameroon, like Mount Manengouba and Mount Nlonaka. Before scientists officially described it, people sometimes confused it with another frog called Afrixalus lindholmi.
Contents
What Does the Cameroon Banana Frog Look Like?
These frogs are quite small. Adult male frogs are about 22–27 mm (0.9–1.1 in) long from their nose to their bottom (called snout–vent length). Adult female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring about 25–29 mm (1.0–1.1 in). They have a sturdy, strong body shape.
Special Features of This Frog
- Their fingers are about one-third webbed, and their toes are half webbed.
- Both their finger and toe tips have large, sticky pads called discs. These help them climb.
- The frog's color changes depending on the time of day!
- During the day, their back (called the dorsum) is mostly milky white. It has only a few brown spots.
- At night, many more brown spots appear. Their back might even turn completely brown.
- The brown line between their eye and snout (called the canthus rostralis) always stays brown.
- Their thighs, hands, and feet are a bright lemon yellow color.
How Does the Male Frog Call?
Male Afrixalus lacteus frogs make a special sound to attract females. Their call is a quiet, high-pitched buzzing sound.
Where Does the Cameroon Banana Frog Live?
The Cameroon banana frog lives in mountain forests. These can be old forests, newer forests, or even the edges of forests. They also live in areas with Raffia palm trees, which are a type of swampy plant. These frogs are found at high places, from about 1,200–1,900 m (3,900–6,200 ft) above sea level.
How Do They Breed?
Male frogs call from the tops of trees that are close to streams. This is where they find mates and lay their eggs.
Why Is This Frog in Danger?
The Cameroon banana frog is not very common. It is only found in a few places. The biggest threats to this frog are:
- Habitat loss: This means their homes are disappearing.
- Habitat fragmentation: This means their homes are being broken up into smaller, separate pieces.
These problems happen because people are clearing land for farming. They are also cutting down trees for wood. On Mount Manengouba, a specific problem is too many Prunus africana trees being cut down. This tree is used for medicine. Sadly, the Cameroon banana frog does not live in any protected areas, like national parks. This makes it harder to keep them safe.
