Diane's bare-hearted glass frog facts for kids

Hyalinobatrachium dianae, also known as Diane's bare-hearted glass frog, is a special kind of frog found in Costa Rica. Many people call it the Kermit frog because its eyes look a lot like the famous Muppet character, Kermit the Frog. This tiny frog belongs to the glass frog family.

About the Kermit Frog

What Does It Look Like?

Hyalinobatrachium dianae is a bright lime-green color. Its most amazing feature is its clear skin on its belly. This transparent skin lets you see its internal organs, like its heart and liver! The frog's skin is smooth and has no spots or patterns.

Its eyes are also very unique. They are white with small dark spots and have black pupils shaped like a horizontal line. These big, white eyes are what make it look so much like Kermit the Frog. One news report even said it has "the kind-hearted muppet's sad but lovable eyes."

Where Does It Live?

This little frog is about 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long, which is about the size of a quarter. It lives in the green rainforests of Costa Rica. You can find it in forests near the Caribbean coast, usually at heights between 400 to 800 metres (1,300 to 2,600 ft) above sea level. Most of the places where this frog lives are protected areas. This means it is safe from most human activities.

How Is It Different?

Scientists can tell Hyalinobatrachium dianae apart from other glass frogs in a few ways. Its skin has a slightly bumpy feel, and its color is always a solid green. Also, its special call is different from other frogs.

DNA tests showed that it is a unique species. It is about 12% different from its closest relative, another glass frog called Hyalinobatrachium chirripoi. The frog's call sounds like a single, long, metallic whistle. It lasts for about half a second and has a high pitch. The scientists who found it think it was hard to discover earlier because its call sounds more like an insect than a typical frog.

How It Was Discovered

Finding the New Frog

Hyalinobatrachium dianae was found in the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica. Scientists first described it from six frogs they collected in the area. The discovery was announced in April 2015 by researchers Brian Kubicki, Stanley Salazar, and Robert Puschendorf. They work at the Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center.

This frog is the 14th type of glass frog found in Costa Rica and the 149th glass frog species known around the world. Brian Kubicki named the frog dianae to honor his mother, Janet Diane Kubicki.

The Kermit Connection

The frog's strong resemblance to Kermit the Frog made it very popular in the news and on social media. Pictures of the frog quickly went viral online. Even Disney released an official interview where Kermit the Frog talked about H. dianae. Kermit joked, "Googly eyes run in our family."

Brian Kubicki, one of the discoverers, said he was surprised by all the attention. He hadn't even noticed the resemblance himself! But he was happy that the frog got so much international attention. He hoped it would help people learn more about the amazing amphibians in Costa Rica and the importance of studying its beautiful tropical forests.

See also

In Spanish: Hyalinobatrachium dianae para niños