Atelopus ardila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atelopus ardila |
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Atelopus ardila is a special kind of frog that belongs to the Bufonidae family, which includes toads. This frog hasn't been seen since 1992. Because of this, scientists think it might be extinct, meaning it no longer exists.
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Discovering the Atelopus ardila Frog
This frog, Atelopus ardila, was officially named and described in 2010. Before that, people sometimes confused it with another frog called Atelopus ignescens. The "ardila" part of its name is special. It was chosen to honor a Colombian scientist named María Cristina Ardila-Robayo. She is a herpetologist, someone who studies amphibians and reptiles. Her important research helped discover many new species of Atelopus frogs.
What Does Atelopus ardila Look Like?
Atelopus ardila frogs show sexual dimorphism. This means males and females look a bit different.
Size Differences
- Male frogs are usually about 35 to 40 millimeters long. This measurement is from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom).
- Female frogs are a little bigger. They are typically 40 to 50 millimeters long.
- Females also have longer, thinner legs. Males have legs that are much stouter, or thicker.
Color and Appearance
Both male and female frogs can have different colors. Their skin might be yellow, red-orange, or even almost black.
Tadpoles
When Atelopus ardila are young, they are tadpoles. These tadpoles are black. They look similar to the tadpoles of other frogs in the Atelopus group.
Where Does Atelopus ardila Live?
Atelopus ardila has only been found in a small area. This area is between Galeras and Laguna de la Cocha in Southern Colombia. This region is part of the Colombian Massif, a large mountain range.
Their Home Environment
These frogs have been found in different places within their habitat:
- Under rocks
- In rocky streams
- In areas with thick forests
What Does Atelopus ardila Eat?
Scientists studied the stomach contents of these frogs. They found out what the frogs like to eat.
Favorite Foods
- Their main food is leaf beetles.
- They also eat fruit flies.
Other Foods
They eat smaller amounts of other insects too. These include insects from families like Pteromalidae, Braconidae, Anthomyiidae, Muscidae, and Tephritidae.
How Does Atelopus ardila Reproduce?
Like other amphibians, Atelopus ardila frogs reproduce using a process called amplexus. This is when the male frog holds onto the female frog.
Mating Habits
- Scientists have seen amplexus happening all year round for Atelopus ardila.
- This mating hug can last a very long time.
- One pair of frogs in the wild stayed in amplexus for 22 days.
- Frogs kept in labs have stayed in amplexus for several months!
Tadpole Life
- The tadpoles of Atelopus ardila live in clear, cool mountain creeks.
- They stay there until they grow into adult frogs.
- Tadpoles were also seen all year. However, there were fewer of them during the summer months.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Atelopus ardila
The story of Atelopus ardila is a sad one. It shows how quickly some animal populations can disappear.
Early Discoveries
- The very first known Atelopus ardila specimen was collected on August 2, 1965.
- The main specimen used to describe the species, called the holotype, was collected on February 25, 1984.
- At first, scientists thought these frogs were Atelopus ignescens.
- Later, they thought they were a special group of that species.
- Finally, after more study in 2010, Atelopus ardila was recognized as a brand new species.
A Rapid Decline
- This frog used to be common in its habitat.
- But its population quickly dropped in the last few decades.
- The last time a specimen was officially collected was in June 1989.
- Many searches in the mid-1990s could not find any of these frogs.
- There were some sightings in 1992. Local people also reported seeing them in 1994 and 2002, but these were not officially confirmed.
- More searches between 2000 and 2004 also failed to find any Atelopus ardila frogs.
Why Did They Disappear?
The exact reason for the decline of Atelopus ardila is not fully known. However, scientists believe several things might have played a part:
- Disease: A fungal disease called chytridiomycosis has harmed many amphibian populations worldwide.
- Climate Change: Changes in weather patterns and temperatures can affect sensitive species.
- Habitat Loss: Their natural home might have been destroyed or changed by human activities.
- Volcano Impacts: Nearby volcanoes could have affected their environment.
Because of its disappearance, the IUCN lists Atelopus ardila as Critically Endangered. This means it is at extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. They are even considered possibly extinct.
