Afrixalus orophilus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Afrixalus orophilus |
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Megalixalus orophilus Laurent, 1947 |
The Afrixalus orophilus is a type of frog that belongs to the Hyperoliidae family. You can find this special frog in parts of Africa. It lives in Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also calls Burundi, Rwanda, and southwestern Uganda home.
This frog has a few interesting common names. Some people call it the Kivu banana frog. Others know it as the montane spiny reed frog. Another name is the two-lined leaf-gluing frog.
Meet the Kivu Banana Frog
These frogs are quite small. Adult male frogs are about 19 to 27 millimeters long. That's less than an inch! Adult female frogs are a bit bigger. They measure about 22 to 27 millimeters from snout to vent.
The frog's back, called its dorsum, has thin stripes. These stripes are a little lighter than the rest of its skin. They come together near the frog's head and also at its rear end.
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Kivu banana frog lives in high places. It likes mountain grasslands and bamboo forests. You can also find it in wet areas with reeds and papyrus plants. These places are usually higher than 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet) above sea level. We are still learning more about exactly what kind of home this frog needs.
Protecting the Kivu Banana Frog
Scientists are still trying to learn how many of these frogs there are. They have found some recently. But they haven't found them again in the first place they were discovered. This is true even after looking hard.
The frog's home is shrinking. This is happening because of farming and new human towns. People also sometimes collect these frogs for the pet trade. Mining can also cause problems for their habitat.
Good news! The Kivu banana frog lives in some protected areas. You can find it in the Bwindi National Park in Uganda. It also lives in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These parks help keep the frogs safe.
