Chimerella mariaelenae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chimerella mariaelenae |
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Chimerella mariaelenae is a type of glassfrog. These tiny frogs live in the Andes mountains. You can find them on the eastern slopes of Ecuador and northeastern Peru. They might also live in nearby Colombia. Two scientists, Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia and Roy Wallace McDiarmid, first described this species.
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Where This Frog Lives
This glassfrog was first found near a small stream. This stream is part of the Jambue River. It is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Zamora, Ecuador. This area is inside the Podocarpus National Park. It's high up in the mountains, about 1,820 meters (5,970 feet) above sea level. This park is in the Zamora-Chinchipe Province of Ecuador.
What Makes This Frog Special
Chimerella mariaelenae has several unique features. These help scientists tell it apart from other glassfrogs.
- Its bones look white when preserved.
- Its belly skin is clear in some parts. This lets you see some organs.
- Its back and sides are cream-colored. They have many small dark spots.
- The frog's snout is flat at the end. It looks like it was cut straight across.
- Males of this species have a small spine on their upper arm.
- The male frog first found was about 19.0 millimeters (0.75 inches) long. This is less than an inch!
- The frog's eyes are larger than the width of its third finger.
- Its eyes look grey when preserved.
- Scientists do not yet know what its call sounds like.
How It Got Its Name
The name mariaelenae was chosen to honor someone. It is named after María Elena Heredia. She is the mother of one of the scientists who discovered this frog.
Where It Can Be Found
Chimerella mariaelenae lives in mountain forests. It has been found in eastern Ecuador and northeastern Peru. It prefers old forests and primary forests. These are forests that have not been cut down much.
See also
In Spanish: Rana de cristal de María Elena para niños
