Chalazodes bubble-nest frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chalazodes bubble-nest frog |
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Philautus chalazodes (Günther, 1876) |
The Raorchestes chalazodes, also known as the Chalazodes bubble-nest frog or white-spotted bush frog, is a special kind of frog. It belongs to the Rhacophoridae family. This frog is very rare and is considered vulnerable.
You can find this frog only in the Western Ghats of India. It lives in tropical forests that are always green and moist. The Raorchestes chalazodes is active at night and lives in trees. Its name, chalazodes, comes from a Greek word meaning "lump," which describes the white spots on its body. These frogs live high up, between 1200 and 1600 meters above sea level.
This frog was thought to be extinct for a long time! It was first found in 1876. But then, in 2011, it was rediscovered in Tamil Nadu, India. A very unique thing about this frog is how it lays its eggs. It lays them inside the hollow stems of a special type of bamboo called Ochlandra travancorica. The male frog then stays to take care of the eggs. This is the only species in its frog group known to show parental care.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Raorchestes chalazodes frog is mostly green. Its belly is a purplish-white color. It also has black-blue spots on its groin area.
Some special features of this frog include its rounded snout. It also has unique bumps on its skin called tubercles. Its toes have some webbing, but not a lot. One of the most amazing things about this frog is its eye. It has a black center (iris) with cool golden patches.
Where Does It Live?
The Raorchestes chalazodes frog lives in a small area of the Western Ghats in India. They only live in places that are higher than 1200 meters. They prefer the tropical, moist evergreen forests.
Specifically, these frogs live among the Ochlandra travancorica bamboo plants. This bamboo grows in thick clumps, especially near streams. These clumps offer great protection for the frogs. Interestingly, the frog cannot make its own holes in the bamboo. It relies on the Nilgiri palm squirrel (Funambulus sublineatus) to make holes for them.
Protecting This Frog
The Raorchestes chalazodes frog is currently listed as vulnerable. This means it's at risk of disappearing. The main reasons for this are forests being cut down and other human activities. Scientists also worry it might get sick from a fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Climate change could also harm the bamboo forests where it lives. Even pilgrims visiting the area can cause problems by leaving trash and collecting firewood.
The Ochlandra travancorica bamboo, which the frog uses for its nests, is often cut down. People use this bamboo for fuel, paper, and pulp. Because of this, there is much less of this bamboo in the Western Ghats.
What We Can Do
Scientists are working to help these frogs. In 2018, a study found 43 frog nests with male guardians in a protected area. To help, we need to map where the Ochlandra travancorica bamboo grows. This will show us which areas need protection.
There are other ways to help too. We could harvest only smaller bamboo stalks. Or, we could stop harvesting bamboo during the frog's breeding season, which is from May to November. People could also create artificial nesting sites that look like the natural bamboo homes.
What Does It Eat?
The Raorchestes chalazodes frog mainly eats small creatures without backbones. These include insects and spiders. They have also been seen eating other invertebrates like snails. For example, they eat a type of snail called Satiella dekkanensis, which doesn't have a hard shell. Before the breeding season, male frogs eat a lot of big prey like these snails. This helps them get ready for the long time they will spend taking care of their eggs.
How They Mate
The breeding season for Raorchestes chalazodes is from May to November. During this time, male frogs find a hollow part of the Ochlandra travancorica bamboo that has an opening. They then make calls from inside the bamboo to attract females.
Since males stay in one bamboo spot, it's thought that females might visit different males. Mating happens inside the bamboo. After the breeding season ends, around November to December, the males stop calling and leave the bamboo nests.
Amazing Parental Care
The Raorchestes chalazodes frog shows direct parental care. This means the parents look after their young. In this species, only the male frogs take care of the eggs.
Male frogs have different ways of protecting their eggs. They might stay near the eggs all the time (egg attendance). They might sit in front of the eggs inside the bamboo to guard them from danger (egg guarding). They can also act aggressively. They might make loud calls or lunge at threats. These threats can be other male frogs or insects like katydids and cockroaches that try to enter the bamboo. During the day, the male frog sleeps near the eggs, keeping its eyes partly closed. While they are taking care of the eggs, the male frogs might not eat much.
This parental care is very important. It protects the eggs from many dangers. Eggs that are not looked after have a much higher chance of dying. The biggest danger is from predators. Sometimes, other male frogs that haven't found a mate might try to eat the eggs. The caring male frog often calls out, which shows he owns the territory. If he stops calling, other males might try to take over and eat the eggs. Flies can also lay their eggs on the frog eggs, and ants might try to eat them. But the male frog might eat these invading ants and flies, which also gives him some food. Another problem for the eggs is fungal infections.
Where They Lay Eggs
The nests are made inside the hollow parts of the Ochlandra travancorica bamboo. Adult frogs get in through a small opening near the bottom of the bamboo section. Scientists think that if the opening were at the top, water could collect inside and drown the baby frogs.
Inside the bamboo nests, it's cooler and more humid than outside. This high humidity is good for the frog eggs. It stops them from losing too much water. The eggs are laid and stick to the inner wall of the bamboo with a sticky substance. Inside the bamboo, these eggs develop directly into froglets without needing water.
How They Grow
The eggs of Raorchestes chalazodes are round and clear. They are attached to the inside walls of the bamboo with a sticky strand. The eggs have a creamy white yolk. After hatching, the tiny froglets stay inside the bamboo. They leave the nest between 3 and 34 days after the first froglet appears.
