Santander poison frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santander poison frog |
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Minyobates virolinensis Ruiz-Carranza and Ramírez-Pinilla, 1992 |
The Santander poison frog, also known as Andinobates virolinensis, is a tiny frog that belongs to the Dendrobatidae family. This family includes many colorful frogs often called "poison dart frogs." This special frog lives only in Colombia, a country in South America. You can find it in the Santander and Cundinamarca areas, high up in the Cordillera Oriental mountain range.
Contents
Meet the Santander Poison Frog
The Santander poison frog is a very small amphibian. It measures up to about 19 millimeters (which is less than an inch!) from its nose to its rear end. That's about the size of a small button!
Where They Live and What They Eat
Santander poison frogs make their home on the ground of cloud forests. These forests are often covered in mist and clouds, making them very damp and full of life.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
These frogs have an interesting way of raising their young. The female frog lays her eggs among the fallen leaves on the forest floor. After the eggs hatch, the male frog takes care of the tiny larvae (which are like tadpoles). He carries them on his back to special plants called bromeliads. Bromeliads are plants that grow on trees and have cup-like centers that collect rainwater. This creates tiny pools where the frog larvae can safely grow and develop into young frogs. These frogs can reproduce all year long.
What's on the Menu?
The Santander poison frog enjoys a diet of various small arthropods. Arthropods are creatures with exoskeletons, like insects and spiders. Their favorite foods include tiny mites, springtails (which are very small insects that jump), ants, and different kinds of insect larvae. This diet is quite similar to what other poison dart frogs eat.
Protecting the Santander Poison Frog
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the Santander poison frog as "Vulnerable." This means it needs our help to survive.
Why They Need Our Help
- Few Homes: These frogs are found in only a few specific places.
- Losing Their Homes: Their forest homes are disappearing. This is mostly because people are clearing land for farming.
- Pet Trade: Sometimes, these frogs are caught from the wild to be sold as pets. This is not allowed in Colombia, as a law from 1985 (INDERENA Decree # 39) forbids collecting poison dart frogs from their natural habitat.
Even though they are vulnerable, the Santander poison frog is quite common in the small areas where it still lives. Protecting their cloud forest homes is very important for their future!
