Boehmantis facts for kids
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The Boehmantis microtympanum is a special kind of frog that lives only on the island of Madagascar. It belongs to a group of frogs called mantellids. This frog is the only species in its entire group, which is called Boehmantis.
Contents
Discovering the Boehmantis Frog
How This Frog Got Its Name
This unique frog was first described by a scientist named Fernand Angel. He originally placed it in a different group of frogs called Mantidactylus. Later, two other scientists, Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences, decided that this frog was so different it needed its own special group. They named this new group Boehmantis.
They made this decision for two main reasons. First, they looked at the frog's DNA, which showed it was very different from other frogs. Second, this frog does not have special glands on its legs (called femoral glands) that almost all other frogs in its family have.
What Does "Boehmantis" Mean?
The name Boehmantis was chosen to honor a German scientist named Wolfgang Böhme. He is a herpetologist, which means he studies reptiles and amphibians like frogs.
What Does the Boehmantis Frog Look Like?
Boehmantis microtympanum frogs are quite large. Adult frogs usually measure between 40 and 60 millimeters long. That's about 1.5 to 2.5 inches, or roughly the length of your thumb!
Their eardrum, called the tympanum, is quite small and hard to see. They have well-developed sticky pads on their finger and toe tips, which help them grip surfaces. Their fingers do not have webbing, but their toes are fully webbed. This helps them swim really well in water.
The skin on their back is smooth. Their color can change from an olive green to a brown, especially when they are younger. They might also have lighter or darker spots that are not very clear. Their belly is white, but their throat and chest often have dark spots or swirly patterns.
Interestingly, scientists have never heard this species of frog make any calls or sounds.
Where Do Boehmantis Frogs Live?
This frog is found only in the southeastern part of Madagascar. It lives in places like Midongy du sud National Park and Andohahela National Park.
These frogs prefer to live near fast-flowing, rocky streams. They can be found in both untouched forests and areas where the forest has been changed by humans. They usually live in older, mature forests, but one frog was even found in an open area next to a small patch of forest. They live at different heights, from about 50 meters (164 feet) to 1000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level.
Protecting the Boehmantis Frog
Why Is It Vulnerable?
The Boehmantis microtympanum frog is currently listed as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). This means it faces a high risk of becoming endangered in the wild.
The main reasons it's vulnerable are:
- It lives in a very small area.
- Its forest home is being destroyed.
Even though it's vulnerable, this frog is still common in the places where it lives. It is also protected because it lives inside two national parks: Midongy du sud and Andohahela. It can also be found in the Tsitongambarika Classified Forest, which helps protect it further.
