Boophis haingana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boophis haingana |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Mantellidae |
| Genus: | Boophis |
| Species: |
B. haingana
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| Binomial name | |
| Boophis haingana Glaw, Köhler, De la Riva, Vieites, and Vences, 2010
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The Boophis haingana is a special type of skeleton frog. It lives only in southeastern Madagascar, an island country off the coast of Africa. This frog is considered an endangered species, meaning it's at risk of disappearing forever.
One of the most interesting things about the Boophis haingana is its unique call. Its calls have very short notes that repeat quickly. This makes its call sound different from other frogs in its family. The frog is also pale green and has parts of its skin that are see-through.
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What is the Boophis haingana?
Scientists give every living thing a special name. Boophis haingana is the scientific name for this particular frog. It belongs to a larger group of frogs called the Boophis albipunctatus group. These frogs are all quite similar in how they look.
This frog was officially described in 2010 by a team of scientists. They included Frank Glaw, Jörn Köhler, Ignacio Riva, David R. Vietes, and Miguel Vences. They wrote a paper about how they used different methods to identify new frog species.
Why is it called haingana?
The second part of the frog's name, "haingana," comes from the Malagasy language. Malagasy is spoken in Madagascar. The word "haingana" means "fast." This name was chosen because of how fast the frog repeats its calls. It's much faster than other similar frog species.
What does the Boophis haingana look like?
The Boophis haingana is mostly pale green. It also has small yellow and brown spots on its body. Its throat is a greenish-blue color. Some parts of its skin, especially on its belly, are so thin they are transparent, or see-through!
The frog's eyes are also quite striking. Its iris (the colored part of the eye) is white and red around the pupil. A black ring surrounds this colorful iris.
How big are these frogs?
Female Boophis haingana frogs are usually larger than the males. They can be about 136% bigger than the males in body length. Male frogs have a special stretchy throat sac. This sac inflates when they call to attract mates.
Special frog features
Like other frogs in the Boophis family, this frog has some unique features. It has a small extra bone between its last and second-to-last fingers and toes. Its fingers and toes also have enlarged tips, which help them grip surfaces.
Scientists place this frog in the Boophis albipunctatus group because of its small size. It also has webbing between its fingers and a clear green back. These are all common traits for frogs in this group.
How does the Boophis haingana behave?
The Boophis haingana is known for its very short and fast calls. The sounds it makes are almost like a continuous buzz. This is different from some other frogs that have more distinct, separate sounds in their calls. For example, its calls are shorter and repeat faster than those of the Boophis miadana frog.
Where does the Boophis haingana live?
The Boophis haingana lives in the forests and wetlands of southeastern Madagascar. These areas provide the perfect environment for these frogs to thrive.
However, as mentioned, this frog is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. This means its population is shrinking, and it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. Protecting its forest and wetland homes is very important to help this unique frog survive.
 | John T. Biggers |
 | Thomas Blackshear |
 | Mark Bradford |
 | Beverly Buchanan |
