Craugastor tabasarae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craugastor tabasarae |
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The Craugastor tabasarae is a special kind of frog that belongs to the Craugastoridae family. It is found only in Panama, which means it is endemic there. This frog has been seen in a few separate places, including the Veraguas, Coclé, Colón, and Panamá Provinces. Its home also includes the Serranía de Tabasará mountain range, which is where it gets part of its name.
About This Frog
Adult male Craugastor tabasarae frogs are about 29 to 34 millimeters (about 1.1 to 1.3 inches) long from their nose to their bottom. The adult females are larger, measuring 49 to 54 millimeters (about 1.9 to 2.1 inches) long.
This frog has a clear eardrum (called a tympanum), even though it's quite dark. In males, the eardrum is round, while in females, it's more oval-shaped. The tips of their fingers and toes are wide and flat, like little discs. Their toes are also slightly webbed at the bottom.
The frog's back is a cocoa brown color with medium-sized darker brown spots. Bright lemon yellow spots are mixed in with the brown. Its lips have stripes of brown and lemon yellow. The top part of its thighs has dark brown or black stripes mixed with bright orange-red stripes. The chin, chest, and belly of the frog are a creamy yellow color. The underside of its legs are bright yellow with a few brown spots. Its eye (called the iris) is silvery or golden on top and dark brown or black underneath.
Where It Lives and How We Can Protect It
The Craugastor tabasarae frog lives in forests on the lower slopes of mountains. It can be found high up, between 600 and 910 meters (about 2,000 to 3,000 feet) above sea level. These frogs usually hang out at night, up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) above the ground. They like to be on plants that are hanging over or near streams. Unlike many frogs, this species likely doesn't have a tadpole stage. Instead, tiny froglets probably hatch directly from the eggs.
This frog is quite rare. Sadly, at least one group of these frogs has almost disappeared and might even be gone forever. The Craugastor tabasarae is in danger because of a special fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (say: Bat-rah-ko-KIT-ree-um den-dro-BY-tih-dis). This fungus makes frogs sick. The frog is also threatened by habitat loss, which means their forest homes are being destroyed.
Luckily, this frog has been found in two national parks: the D. Omar Torríjos. H. and Chagres National Park. These parks help protect the places where these special frogs live.
See also
In Spanish: Craugastor tabasarae para niños
