Callulina laphami facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Callulina laphami |
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Callulina laphami is a special kind of frog. Scientists first found it in 2010. They were exploring the rainforests in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. This frog lives in only one small area. This area is made up of the Kindoroko and Minja Forest Reserves. These reserves are located in the Pare Mountains.
The forest where this frog lives is getting smaller. Trees around it are being cut down for farms. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says this frog is critically endangered. This means it is at very high risk of disappearing forever.
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What Does Callulina laphami Look Like?
This frog is quite sturdy and has a plump body. It has special ridges, like small bumps, on its arms and legs. These ridges are made of glands.
Unlike many frogs, Callulina laphami does not have visible eardrums, called tympani. Its fingers and toes also do not have large pads on the tips.
Male frogs are smaller than females. Males measure about 23 to 29 millimeters (0.9 to 1.1 inches) long. Females are larger, ranging from 33 to 45 millimeters (1.3 to 1.8 inches) long.
The frog's back is dark brown. Its sides are tan, and its belly is a yellowish-cream color. Most of these frogs have a red band between their eyes. But some individuals have a green band instead. When a male frog calls, it makes a fast series of chirping sounds.
Where Does This Frog Live?
This unique frog is only found in one undisturbed forest. This forest is in the northern Pare Mountains. It is near the border between Kenya and Tanzania. The frog lives at high altitudes, between 1,730 and 2,000 meters (5,676 and 6,562 feet) above sea level.
This forest area includes the Kindoroko and Minja Forest Reserves. Land around these reserves has been cleared. This cleared land is now used for human settlements.
How Does Callulina laphami Live?
Callulina laphami lives in humid mountain forests. You might find it near streams. But it also lives on drier parts of the forest, like ridges.
During the day, these frogs hide. They like to stay under rocks or logs. At night, they become active. They can be seen climbing in bushes and low trees. They often climb about one or two meters (3 to 6 feet) off the ground.
Scientists do not know much about how these frogs breed. However, it is likely that their young develop directly from eggs. This means baby frogs hatch as tiny frogs. They do not go through a tadpole stage like many other frogs.
Why Is This Frog Endangered?
The forest where Callulina laphami lives is quite small. It covers about 16.5 square kilometers (6.4 square miles). This forest is surrounded by cleared land. This cleared land is not suitable for these forest-dwelling frogs.
Even though the forest is protected as two reserves, it still faces threats. People continue to cut down trees on a small scale. Humans are also moving into the reserve areas.
Currently, there are a good number of these frogs. But because they live in such a small area, they are very vulnerable. Even small changes to their environment can harm them. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed this frog as critically endangered. This means it faces an extremely high risk of extinction.
Scientists believe that the frog's habitat is shrinking. This is due to cities growing, trees being cut down, and animals grazing in the forest.
