Craugastor trachydermus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craugastor trachydermus |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Eleutherodactylus trachydermus Campbell, 1994 |
The Craugastor trachydermus is a type of frog that belongs to the Craugastoridae family. It is found only in Guatemala, which means it is endemic to that country. So far, it has only been found in one specific place called Xiacam, in the Sierra de Santa Cruz mountain range, located in the Izabal Department. Scientists collected the first frogs of this species there in 1989. This frog might already be extinct, but some frogs found about 10 kilometers away could also be this species.
What's in a Name?
The scientific name trachydermus comes from two old Greek words: trachys, which means "rough," and derma, which means "skin." This name was chosen because this frog has very rough skin!
What Does It Look Like?
Scientists have studied four of these frogs: two adult males and two adult females. The males are about 28 to 34 millimeters long (that's about 1 to 1.3 inches) from their snout to their bottom. The females are a bit bigger, measuring 45 to 46 millimeters (about 1.8 inches).
This frog has an oval-shaped snout when you look at it from above, and it looks flat at the end when you see it from the side. It has clear ridges on its head, called the canthus rostralis. The frog's eardrum, called the tympanum, is hard to see in males and completely hidden in females.
Its fingers and toes have special pads called discs. Its toes have some webbing, but its fingers do not. The frog's back, sides, and the top of its legs are very bumpy, with the biggest bumps on its sides. Its back is brown with some faint marks, and the bumps are dark brown or black. Its belly is yellowish-brown with some white spots.
Where It Lives and Why It Needs Help
This frog lives in old, wet forests in the mountains, about 900 meters (about 2,950 feet) above sea level. People have seen these frogs on rocks near streams at night.
The Craugastor trachydermus is in danger because its home is disappearing. This is happening because people are building new settlements, expanding farms, and cutting down trees for wood. Another big threat is a frog disease called Chytridiomycosis. This disease has caused many other stream-dwelling frogs to disappear, and it could also affect this species.
See also
In Spanish: Craugastor trachydermus para niños
