Cardioglossa pulchra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cardioglossa pulchra |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Genus: | Cardioglossa |
| Species: |
C. pulchra
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| Binomial name | |
| Cardioglossa pulchra Schiøtz, 1963
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The Cardioglossa pulchra is a special type of frog that belongs to the Arthroleptidae family. People often call it the black long-fingered frog because of its unique look. You can find this frog in the Cameroon Range in western Cameroon, but not on Mount Cameroon itself. It also lives in the Obudu Plateau area in eastern Nigeria.
Contents
Meet the Black Long-Fingered Frog
This section tells you about the size and features of the Cardioglossa pulchra frog.
How Big Are They?
Male Cardioglossa pulchra frogs are usually about 23–33 mm (0.9–1.3 in) long. This measurement is from their snout (nose) to their vent (a small opening at the end of their body). Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring around 31–34 mm (1.2–1.3 in) from snout to vent.
Special Features of Males
Male frogs of this species have some very interesting features. They have extremely long third fingers, which makes them stand out. They also have small spines on their fingers and near their groin area. Female frogs do not have these special long fingers or spines.
What Do They Look Like?
These frogs have a broad black stripe that runs all the way down their back. This stripe is a common pattern for frogs in the Cardioglossa group. Unlike some other frogs, they do not have a white line under their ear drum, which is called the tympanum.
About Their Tadpoles
The baby frogs, called tadpoles, have a flat, oval-shaped body. They also have a long tail with a rounded tip. The biggest tadpoles found so far were about 25 mm (1.0 in) long in total. Most of that length is their tail, as their body is only about 8 mm (0.3 in) long.
Where Do These Frogs Live?
This section explores the natural home of the Cardioglossa pulchra and what is being done to protect them.
Their Forest Home
The black long-fingered frog lives in forests that are found on the sides of mountains. These are called submontane and montane forests. They like to live near fast-flowing streams. At higher places on the mountains, you can also find them along the edges of the forest. These frogs can even live in areas where some trees have been cut down.
How High Do They Live?
These frogs live at heights between 900–1,800 m (3,000–5,900 ft) above sea level. This means they prefer cooler, higher places in the mountains.
Where Do They Lay Eggs?
Cardioglossa pulchra frogs lay their eggs and have their babies in streams. Tadpoles have been found in streams even when the area around them was used for farming, with no trees growing right on the riverbanks. The tadpoles like to hide near the riverbank in sandy mud or between stones.
Protecting the Frogs
Sometimes, these frogs can be quite common, especially during the time of year when they are breeding. However, their homes are shrinking. This is happening because of farming, including big farms that grow crops like palm oil. Also, more human settlements are being built, and wood is being cut down for firewood and building homes.
To help protect them, the Cardioglossa pulchra frog lives in special protected areas. These include the Bafut-Ngemba Forest Reserve in Cameroon and the Cross River National Park in Nigeria. These parks help keep their forest homes safe.
 | Mary Eliza Mahoney |
 | Susie King Taylor |
 | Ida Gray |
 | Eliza Ann Grier |
