Arthroleptella rugosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arthroleptella rugosa |
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The Arthroleptella rugosa, also known as the rough moss frog, is a small frog species. It belongs to the Pyxicephalidae family. This frog is only found in South Africa, specifically on the Klein Swartberg Mountain. This mountain is an inselberg, which means it's like an isolated island of rock rising from a flat area, located near Caledon, Western Cape. The scientific name rugosa comes from Latin and means "wrinkled" or "rough." This name fits the frog because its skin looks rough, and its calls sound rough too!
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What Does the Rough Moss Frog Look Like?
Rough moss frogs are quite small. Male frogs are usually about 1.2 to 1.4 centimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. The only female frog studied was a bit bigger, about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) long.
These frogs have many small, bumpy glands on their backs, which makes their skin look rough. This is a special feature that helps tell them apart from other Arthroleptella species. Their legs are also quite short. Adult rough moss frogs are dark chocolate brown. They might have slightly lighter, uneven bands on their sides that are sometimes hard to see.
How Do Rough Moss Frogs Communicate?
Male rough moss frogs make two main types of calls. The first is a "chirp," which is a short call with two to four quick sounds. The second call is a "chuckle." This call has 6 to 10 pulsed notes and sounds rough and squeaky. It's very different from the calls of other frogs in their group. Sometimes, a frog might make a chuckle call before it chirps or when it's being aggressive.
How Do Rough Moss Frogs Reproduce?
Scientists have seen one group of seven eggs laid by a rough moss frog. The baby frogs, called tadpoles, do not swim around. Instead, they stay mostly still on a damp surface. They don't have a working mouth. After about three weeks, they change into tiny frogs.
Where Does the Rough Moss Frog Live?
The rough moss frog lives in a type of plant community called fynbos heathland. This is a unique type of vegetation found in South Africa. They like to live in thick patches of Restionaceae plants, which are grass-like plants, very close to wet, marshy areas. You can find them at elevations between 500 and 800 meters (about 1,640 to 2,625 feet) above sea level.
Why Is the Rough Moss Frog Endangered?
The places where the rough moss frog lives are in serious danger. Wildfires and plants that are not native to the area (called invasive species) are big threats. Also, this frog is only found in a very small area. Even after searching nearby mountains, no other rough moss frogs have been found. Because of these reasons, the rough moss frog is considered "Critically Endangered." This means it is at a very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
Images for kids
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A rough moss frog on a leaf.
