Craugastor taurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craugastor taurus |
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| C. taurus in Golfito, Puntarenas, Costa Rica | |
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Eleutherodactylus taurus Taylor, 1958 |
The Craugastor taurus is a type of frog that belongs to the Craugastoridae family. It lives in the Golfo Dulce area of southern Costa Rica and nearby western Panama. People sometimes call it the Golfito robber frog.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name taurus comes from a Latin word. It means "bull."
What Does This Frog Look Like?
The Craugastor taurus is a big frog. It looks a bit like a toad. Female frogs can grow up to 80 millimeters (about 3.1 inches) long. This measurement is from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom). Male frogs are smaller, growing up to 42 millimeters (about 1.6 inches) long.
Their back is bumpy and can be grey or brown. They often have darker spots or blotches. Their arms and legs have dark stripes. Their feet have lots of skin between the toes, which is called webbing. Male frogs have a special pouch called a vocal sac. They use this to make sounds. Males also have bigger eardrums, called a tympanum, compared to their body size.
Where Does This Frog Live and How Is It Protected?
The Craugastor taurus lives in rocky areas near streams. These streams are found in wet lowland forests. You can find them at heights between 25 and 525 meters (about 82 to 1,722 feet) above sea level. They often hide on rocks or among plants and roots along the stream banks. These frogs are active at night.
This frog used to be very common. But between the years 2000 and 2008, scientists saw almost none. They only found one frog, even after looking very hard. No one knows exactly why their numbers dropped so much. One idea is a frog disease called chytridiomycosis. This disease affects amphibians. Outside of special protected areas, losing their habitat (the places where they live) is also a big problem.
Luckily, in 2014, two groups of these frogs were found. They were in a place called Punta Banco in the Golfito area. The frogs are still missing from their old homes. Scientists think Punta Banco might be a safer place for them. This area has a drier climate. This might make it harder for the chytridiomycosis disease to spread there.
See also
In Spanish: Rana de quebrada del Pacífico sur para niños
