Arthroleptis reichei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arthroleptis reichei |
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The Poroto screeching frog (scientific name: Arthroleptis reichei) is a small and interesting frog. It lives in the mountains of eastern and southern Tanzania and northern Malawi. People also call it the large-toad squeaker or Reiche's squeaker. This frog was named after a German botanist, Karl Friedrich Reiche. It belongs to a family of frogs called Arthroleptidae.
What Does It Look Like?
The Arthroleptis reichei is a small frog. Adult males are about 21 to 28 millimeters long. That's less than an inch! Adult females are a bit bigger, from 21 to 32 millimeters long.
This frog has a narrow head and long legs. It has a small, oval-shaped eardrum, called a tympanum. The tips of its fingers and toes are a bit wider than the rest. Its back is usually brown. Often, it has a darker hourglass shape or a pale line between its eyes.
Male Poroto screeching frogs make a special sound to attract mates. Their call is a single whistling note. They repeat this note many times for up to 30 seconds. It sounds like about 2.3 notes per second. The main sound frequency is around 3400–3500 Hertz.
Where Does It Live?
The Poroto screeching frog lives in mountain forests. You can find it at high places, from 1500 to 2200 meters (about 4,900 to 7,200 feet) above sea level. It lives on the forest floor, hiding among fallen leaves.
Male frogs often call from low bushes or wild banana plants. Like other frogs in its group, this frog likely breeds in a special way. It probably has "direct development." This means the eggs hatch directly into tiny frogs, without a tadpole stage that lives in water.
Is It Safe?
The Poroto screeching frog is quite common in the areas where it lives. However, its home is shrinking. This is because of things like farming, cutting down trees for wood, and new human settlements. These activities cause habitat loss.
Even though it faces these threats, the frog is found in several protected areas. These protected places help keep its habitat safe.
