Cophixalus pulchellus facts for kids
Cophixalus pulchellus is a tiny species of frog that belongs to the Microhylidae family. This small frog is only found in Papua New Guinea, specifically in the Hunstein Mountains of the East Sepik Province. Its scientific name, pulchellus, comes from a Latin word meaning "beautiful."
Quick facts for kids Cophixalus pulchellus |
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| Cophixalus pulchellus is only known from Mount Hunstein in Papua New Guinea |
What Does This Frog Look Like?
The only Cophixalus pulchellus frog ever found is an adult female. It measures about 19 mm (0.7 in) from its snout to its bottom. That's less than an inch long!
Its snout (nose area) is flat at the end. The frog has moderately large eyes. It also has a tympanum, which is like an eardrum, that you can partly see.
This frog has special pads, called discs, on its fingers and toes. These discs help it grip surfaces. However, the disc on its first finger is very small. It does not have any webbing between its fingers or toes.
The back of the frog, called the dorsum, is a yellowish-grey color. It has black spots or blotches on it. The area between its eyes is yellowish.
Where Does This Frog Live and Is It Safe?
The only Cophixalus pulchellus frog known was found in a dense rainforest. It was living in shrubs where the tree branches formed a thick roof, blocking out much of the sunlight. This location was about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level.
In 2004, this frog was listed as "data deficient" on the IUCN Red List. This means scientists don't have enough information about it. They don't know how many there are or how widely they live. This is because only one frog of this species has ever been discovered.
Because so little is known, scientists also don't know if its population is growing or shrinking. At the time of its last check, there were no known threats to this frog. Its home in the Hunstein Mountains was likely safe from human activity.
See also
In Spanish: Cophixalus pulchellus para niños
