Bale Mountains tree frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bale Mountains tree frog |
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The Bale Mountains tree frog (Balebreviceps hillmani) is a special kind of frog. It belongs to the Brevicipitidae family. This frog is the only species in its group, called Balebreviceps. You can only find it in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. This makes it an endemic species. It lives in forests, especially where there are lots of Erica arborea trees. Even though it lives inside the Bale Mountains National Park, it's in danger. Its home is shrinking because of things like cows eating plants, people cutting down trees for firewood, and new settlements.
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What Does the Bale Mountains Tree Frog Look Like?
The Bale Mountains tree frog has a strong, round body. People often call it the Ethiopian short-headed frog. Its belly is smooth, but its throat is wrinkly. Its back is thick and has small pits.
Legs and Special Features
This frog has short, strong legs. Its toes do not have webbing, and its fifth toe is very small. Male frogs don't have vocal sacs, so they can't make loud calls. Female frogs can't hear sounds carried through the air. A cool thing about this frog is its unique mouth roof, called a palate.
Colors and Patterns
Bale Mountains tree frogs are usually purple or brown. They have two bright yellow or golden stripes. These stripes run along their bodies.
Where Do These Frogs Live?
The Bale Mountains tree frog lives only in Ethiopia. You can find them specifically in the Harenna area of the Bale Mountains. Sadly, the number of these frogs has been going down since the late 1980s.
Population Status
There are fewer and fewer adult frogs each year. The total number of these frogs is very low. Because of this, the species is now considered critically endangered. This means they are at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
What is Their Home Like?
These frogs are known to live in a special type of forest. This forest is filled with Erica arborea trees. They like to hide under logs, big rocks, and moss. You can also find them in compost piles.
Environment and Hiding Spots
Their home is very humid, meaning it's always moist. The wet season lasts from March until October. These frogs are usually found above the ground. They can also squeeze into small cracks and spaces.
How Do They Have Babies?
The Bale Mountains tree frog lives its whole life on land. It doesn't need water for any part of its life cycle. Scientists believe these frogs build nests on the ground to lay their eggs.
Life Cycle
The eggs do not hatch into tadpoles that swim in water. Instead, they hatch directly into tiny versions of the adult frogs. This is a special way for frogs to grow up!
What Dangers Do They Face?
The biggest problems for these frogs are their homes getting destroyed. This includes trees being cut down and people moving into their areas. More people means more cattle grazing and farms.
Other Threats
People cut down trees for firewood, which destroys the frogs' habitat. A fungus called Chytrid has been found in these frogs. However, scientists don't yet know if it harms them.
How They Protect Themselves
When a Bale Mountains tree frog feels threatened, it tries to look bigger. It stretches out its legs, stands tall, and fills its body with air. This makes it seem scarier to predators. Since they live high up in moist places, predators and drying out are not big threats.
How Can We Help Them?
The area where these frogs live is a protected park. It has a plan to help save animals, but it needs better management. We need to improve how the park is managed. This will help protect the frogs' homes from being used too much.
Monitoring and Future Protection
It's important to keep track of the frog population. Since they are critically endangered, we need to know if their numbers are still dropping. We also need to watch out for climate change and diseases. This will help prevent future problems for these unique frogs.
