Craugastor rhyacobatrachus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craugastor rhyacobatrachus |
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Eleutherodactylus rhyacobatrachus Campbell and Savage, 2000 |
The Craugastor rhyacobatrachus is a type of frog that belongs to the Craugastoridae family. It is often called the "torrent frog" because it lives near fast-flowing streams. You can find this frog on the Pacific side of the Talamanca-Barú mountains. This area stretches across Costa Rica and western Panama. Scientists named it rhyacobatrachus using Greek words. Batrachos means "frog," and rhyaco means "torrent." This name perfectly describes its home in rushing waters.
What Does the Torrent Frog Look Like?
Adult male torrent frogs are about 40 to 50 millimeters long. That's about the length of two AA batteries! Female frogs are larger, measuring 55 to 81 millimeters. Their snouts look oval when you see them from above. From the side, their snouts are rounded.
Their upper eyelids have bumpy skin, like small hills. They have a clear eardrum, called a tympanum, on the side of their head. Their fingers have large, flat pads, which help them grip. They also have small flaps of skin on the sides of their fingers. Their toes have big pads too, with clear skin flaps and lots of webbing between them.
The skin on their back is very rough. Their back is usually tan or olive brown. It has many darker spots or blotches. The back of their thighs has a mix of pale yellow and brown colors. Their belly is pale yellow. It has many brown marks, just like their throat and chest.
Where Do They Live and How Are They Doing?
Craugastor rhyacobatrachus frogs live in streams within wet mountain forests. They are found at heights of 950 to 1800 meters above sea level. That's higher than many tall buildings! These frogs love areas with rocks and waterfalls. At night, you can often find them sitting or looking for food on rocks in mountain streams.
This frog species used to be quite common in the places it lived. However, it seems to have disappeared from Costa Rica. It hasn't been seen there since 1964. Scientists also believe its numbers have dropped in Panama. Besides losing their natural homes, a fungal disease called chytridiomycosis is thought to be a big reason for their decline. This disease affects amphibians worldwide.
