Cardioglossa alsco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cardioglossa alsco |
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The Cardioglossa alsco is a special type of frog that belongs to the Arthroleptidae family. It is found only in Cameroon, a country in Africa. This frog was first discovered in the Tschabal Mbabo Mountains and also lives in the Gotel Mountains, both in the Adamawa Region. It's possible that this frog might also live in nearby Nigeria.
The frog's unique name, alsco, comes from a company called the American Linen Supply Company (ALSCO). The German branch of this company helped fund the trip where scientists found this new frog species.
What Does the Alsco Frog Look Like?
Adult male Alsco frogs are about 24 to 30 millimeters long. That's roughly the size of a large paperclip! Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring 25 to 34 millimeters.
This frog has a rounded snout. You can see its tympanum, which is like its eardrum. A cool fact about the male frogs is that their third finger is extra large. The frog's toes have small, clear pads and a little bit of webbing between them.
The top of the frog's body is tan. It has three big, dark spots that follow each other down its back. These spots can be very clear or a bit faded, depending on the frog. A wide black stripe runs from the tip of its nose, through its eye, and then goes down towards its belly in the middle of its body. The sides of the frog are a plain pink color. Its arms and legs are tan on top and have some thin, broken black stripes. The frog's belly is blue and has different amounts of black speckles.
Where Does the Alsco Frog Live?
The Cardioglossa alsco frog lives in mountain gallery forests. These are forests that grow along rivers or streams in high places, usually between 1,700 and 2,100 meters (about 5,500 to 6,900 feet) above sea level.
These frogs like to be near streams. Scientists believe that the frog's babies, called tadpoles, live in these streams. The first frogs found were hiding under big stones near shallow pools, right next to a small creek in the forest. Male frogs have been heard calling at night during the dry season.
Protecting the Alsco Frog
Sadly, the Alsco frog is facing threats. Its home is being lost because people are clearing the forest to create land for animals to graze. However, some parts of the forest where it lives are hard to reach, which helps protect them a bit. The frog's habitat is also at risk from fires.
Currently, the Cardioglossa alsco frog is not known to live in any protected areas like national parks. This means it's even more important to protect its forest home.
