Burundi Screeching Frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burundi Screeching Frog |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Genus: | Arthroleptis |
| Species: |
A. schubotzi
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| Binomial name | |
| Arthroleptis schubotzi Nieden, 1911
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| Synonyms | |
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The Arthroleptis schubotzi, also called the Burundi screeching frog, is a very small frog. It is also known as Schubotz's squeaker or the Kivu dwarf litter frog. This tiny amphibian belongs to the Arthroleptidae family. You can find it in the African Rift Valley. This region includes eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kivu), southwestern Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and western Uganda. Scientists are still working to fully understand this unique species.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Honoring a Zoologist
The scientific name for this frog, schubotzi, honors a German zoologist. His name was Johann G. Hermann Schubotz. He lived from 1881 to 1955.
Meet the Burundi Screeching Frog
Size and Appearance
The Burundi screeching frog is truly tiny! Adult males are about 19 to 21 millimeters (0.7 to 0.8 inches) long. Adult females are a bit bigger, measuring 17 to 23 millimeters (0.7 to 0.9 inches) long. This measurement is from their snout to their rear end.
This frog has a clear eardrum, called a tympanum. It is about half the size of its eye. Its legs are short. The frog's belly often has dark spots. Its skin color helps it blend in with its surroundings. This is called being cryptic. Many of these frogs have a dark spot on their head. Male frogs have a black throat.
Its Special Call
Male Burundi screeching frogs make a unique sound. Their mating call is a loud series of double chirps. This sound helps them attract females.
Where It Lives and How We Protect It
Habitat and Lifestyle
The Burundi screeching frog lives in many different places. You can find it in thick tropical forests. It also lives at the edges of forests and in savanna areas. Sometimes, it even lives in farm areas outside the forest. These frogs live at high elevations. They are found from about 1,460 to 2,800 meters (4,790 to 9,190 feet) above sea level.
This frog is very good at adapting to its surroundings. It prefers to live among the fallen leaves on the forest floor. This is why it's called a leaf-litter species.
How It Reproduces
Unlike many frogs, the Burundi screeching frog does not need water to lay its eggs. It uses a special way of breeding called direct development. This means the eggs hatch directly into tiny froglets. There is no tadpole stage that lives in water. This makes the frog very independent from ponds or streams.
Protecting Their Home
We don't know specific things that threaten this frog. However, it probably cannot survive if its habitat is completely destroyed. Protecting its forest home is very important.
Luckily, this frog lives in several protected areas. You can find it in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also lives in Kibale National Park and Bwindi National Park in Uganda. These parks help keep their homes safe.
 | Bessie Coleman |
 | Spann Watson |
 | Jill E. Brown |
 | Sherman W. White |
