Aubria masako facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aubria masako
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Pyxicephalidae
Genus:	Aubria
Species:	A. masako
Binomial name
Aubria masako Ohler and Kazadi, 1990
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The Aubria masako is a type of frog that belongs to the Pyxicephalidae family. People sometimes call it the Masako ball frog or Masako fishing frog. You can find this frog in parts of central Africa, including countries like Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of the Congo. It also lives eastward into the central Democratic Republic of the Congo. Scientists are still debating if it is a separate species from Aubria subsigillata, but for now, it is considered its own unique frog.

What Does the Masako Ball Frog Look Like?

Male Aubria masako frogs are usually about 63–79 mm (2.5–3.1 in) long from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom). Female frogs are bigger than males. The largest of these frogs can grow to be about 100 mm (3.9 in) long.

They have a large, clear eardrum (called a tympanum) on the side of their head. There is also a fold of skin above their eardrum. Their finger and toe tips are round, but they are not extra large. Their fingers have only a few skin fringes, while their toes have some webbing.

The frog's back (dorsum) is brown with dark spots. Sometimes, they have a white or off-white line running down the middle of their back. Their belly is white with brown spots, but in older frogs, it becomes almost completely white, except for their throat. Both male and female frogs have bright yellow-brown glands near their knees.

Where Does This Frog Live and What Does It Eat?

The Aubria masako frog lives in swamps or next to small streams. You can find them in forests, especially in lowland areas or along rivers (gallery forests). They also live in areas where the forest has been changed by farming.

These frogs breed in still water, like pools, swamps, and marshes. They are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. During the day, when they are not active, they burrow into the mud to hide.

What do they eat? Unlike many amphibians, these frogs eat fish, such as Epiplatys. They also eat insects and other small creatures with exoskeletons (arthropods). Sometimes, they even eat other amphibians, including smaller frogs of their own kind.

Is the Masako Ball Frog Safe?

The Aubria masako is a very adaptable species, meaning it can live in different kinds of environments. However, in some places, it is only found in untouched natural areas. Even so, scientists do not think this frog is in danger right now. It is believed to live in several protected areas, which helps keep it safe.