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Rio Changena robber frog facts for kids

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Rio Changena robber frog
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Synonyms
  • Eleutherodactylus blairi Barbour, 1928
  • Lithodytes habenatus Cope, 1875
  • Lithodytes muricinus Cope, 1875
  • Eleutherodactylus jota Lynch, 1980

The Rio Changena robber frog (scientific name: Craugastor podiciferus) is a type of frog. It belongs to the Craugastoridae family. You can find this frog in the countries of Costa Rica and Panama. It lives in warm, wet montane forests, which are forests found on mountains. Sadly, its home is shrinking because of habitat loss. This means it's becoming harder for these frogs to find places to live.

What Does It Look Like?

This frog has a long snout that looks like an oval when you see it from above. From the side, it looks a bit flat and pointy. The ridge between its eye and nostril, called the canthus rostralis, is sharp.

Behind its eardrum (called the tympanum), there's a fold of skin that becomes clear. The frog's fingers do not have special ridges on their sides, and their tips are slightly rounded. Its toes also do not have side ridges, but they do have small, flat pads called discs.

Colors and Patterns

The frog's back, also known as its dorsum, is usually grayish-brown or brown. It might have some spots and a bar between its eyes. A black line runs along the ridge from its eye to its nostril and over the fold behind its eardrum.

The belly of the frog can be dark brown or black with small bluish-white spots. Sometimes, it's gray-orange. The throat is often orange or gray-orange.

Where Does It Live?

The Rio Changena robber frog lives in specific areas of Costa Rica and Panama. It prefers montane forests, which are forests found on mountainsides. These forests are usually moist and have a subtropical or tropical climate. This means they are warm and wet, which is perfect for frogs.

Why Is It Important?

Frogs like the Rio Changena robber frog are an important part of their ecosystem. They help control insect populations and are also a food source for other animals. When their numbers go down, it can affect the balance of nature in their habitat.

Protecting the Rio Changena Robber Frog

The biggest threat to this frog is habitat loss. This happens when forests are cut down for farming, building, or other human activities. Protecting these special mountain forests is key to helping the Rio Changena robber frog survive. Conservation efforts aim to save their homes so these unique frogs can continue to thrive.

See also

A robot for kids In Spanish: Craugastor podiciferus para niños

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