Craugastor ranoides facts for kids
Craugastor ranoides is a type of frog that belongs to the Craugastoridae family. These frogs are found in specific parts of Central America. You can find them in the southern Atlantic lowlands of Nicaragua and the northwestern areas of Costa Rica. They also live across Costa Rica and into the very western part of Panama.
This frog usually lives in wet forests, both in lowlands and in areas just before mountains. They like places with small streams. Sometimes, they can also be found in dry forests, as long as there are streams that flow all year round. Sadly, Craugastor ranoides is in danger. Its homes are disappearing, and it's also threatened by a serious frog disease called chytridiomycosis. This disease has caused the frog to vanish from many places it used to live in Costa Rica, even in areas that were untouched by humans.
Quick facts for kids Craugastor ranoides |
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Lithodytes ranoides Cope, 1886 |
Contents
About the Craugastor ranoides Frog
The Craugastor ranoides is a fascinating amphibian. It's part of a large group of frogs known as the Craugastoridae family. This family includes many different types of frogs, often called "rain frogs" or "fleshbelly frogs." They are known for living in a variety of habitats, especially in Central and South America.
Where This Frog Lives
This specific frog species has a home range that spans three countries. It lives in the southern Atlantic lowland regions of Nicaragua. You can also find it in the northwestern parts of Costa Rica. From there, its territory stretches across Costa Rica and reaches into the very western edge of Panama. This means it's a frog that crosses international borders!
Its Natural Home Environment
Craugastor ranoides prefers certain types of places to live. Its main homes are wet forests found in low-lying areas. It also likes "premontane" wet forests, which are forests found on the lower slopes of mountains. These frogs are often found near small streams, which are important for their survival. Interestingly, they can also live in dry forests, but only if those forests have streams that flow all year long. This shows how important water is to them.
Why the Craugastor ranoides Is in Danger
Unfortunately, the Craugastor ranoides frog is facing serious threats. These threats are causing its numbers to drop.
Loss of Habitat
One major problem is habitat loss. This means that the natural places where these frogs live are being destroyed or changed. Forests might be cut down for farming, building, or other human activities. When their homes disappear, these frogs have nowhere to live, find food, or lay their eggs.
The Chytrid Fungus Threat
Another big danger is a disease called chytridiomycosis. This disease is caused by a type of fungus that attacks amphibians. It affects their skin, making it hard for them to breathe and absorb water. This fungal infection has been very harmful to frog populations around the world. For Craugastor ranoides, this disease has caused them to disappear from many areas in Costa Rica where they used to live. This includes places that were still wild and untouched, showing how powerful and widespread this disease can be. Scientists are working hard to understand and fight this fungus to protect frogs like Craugastor ranoides.
