Barygenys exsul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barygenys exsul |
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Baragenys exsul Zweifel, 1963 — incorrect original spelling of generic name |
Barygenys exsul is a type of frog that belongs to the Microhylidae family. It is found only in Papua New Guinea, which means it is endemic there. This frog lives on Rossel Island and Tagula Island in the Louisiade Archipelago, which is east of New Guinea. Scientists are still checking if the frogs found on Tagula Island are exactly the same as those on Rossel Island. Before 2013, some other similar frogs, Barygenys apodasta and Barygenys resima, were sometimes mistaken for Barygenys exsul.
What Does This Frog Look Like?
Adult male Barygenys exsul frogs are about 22.4–25.5 mm (0.88–1.00 in) long from their snout to their bottom. Female frogs are a bit larger, measuring about 22.8–38.9 mm (0.90–1.53 in). These frogs have small eyes. Their eardrum, called the tympanum, is either hard to see or not visible at all.
Their fingers are short and do not have webs between them. The tips of their fingers are rounded, but they do not have special sticky pads called discs. Their toes also do not have webs. They have small discs that are only slightly wider than the part of the toe right before the tip.
The color of these frogs is usually dark brown or a muddy brown. They might have tiny black spots or faint darker brown patterns. Sometimes, they can be a plain dark brown color. Others might have a wide, muddy brown stripe running down their back.
Male Barygenys exsul frogs make calls at night. They call from under the ground. Their call is a quick series of 4 to 9 "boops" sounds.
Where Does This Frog Live?
Barygenys exsul frogs live in habitats like lowland rainforests and cloudforests. These can be forests that have never been cut down (primary) or forests that are growing back (secondary). They have been found living at heights up to 720 m (2,360 ft) above sea level.
This frog is a fossorial species, which means it lives mostly underground. It can be quite common several centimeters below the soil surface. Scientists believe that these frogs develop directly. This means they do not have a free-swimming tadpole stage like many other frogs. Instead, tiny froglets hatch directly from the eggs.
Is This Frog Safe?
The Barygenys exsul frog is not currently facing big threats. This means its population is stable. On Tagula Island, people sometimes use these frogs for traditional purposes. They believe planting the frogs can help make the land fertile. However, this practice is not widespread enough to be a major danger to the frog population.
