Alsodes gargola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alsodes gargola |
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The Tonchek spiny-chest frog, also known as Alsodes gargola, is a special type of frog in the family Alsodidae. It is endemic to Argentina, which means it is found naturally only in that country. You can find it in the northern part of a region called Patagonia.
About the Tonchek Spiny-Chest Frog
This frog is quite unique! It's a semi-aquatic animal, meaning it spends time both in water and on land. You can find it living near cool, clear mountain lakes and streams.
Surviving Winter
These frogs are super tough! They have to survive long, cold winters. They "overwinter" for about eight months of the year. This means they go into a kind of hibernation to get through the freezing temperatures. Even their babies, called tadpoles, can overwinter! They survive by staying hidden under the ice and snow.
Alsodes gargola adults and tadpoles are very good at living in water that doesn't have many dissolved minerals. They can also handle very cold winter conditions. This shows they might be better at surviving winter than many other types of frogs.
What Threatens This Frog
One of the main threats to the Tonchek spiny-chest frog comes from trout that are not native to the area. These "exotic" trout were brought in by people. They can eat the frogs' eggs and tadpoles. Even though these trout are a danger, scientists believe the frog populations are not yet shrinking too much.
See also
In Spanish: Alsodes gargola para niños
