False tomato frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids False tomato frog |
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The false tomato frog, also known as the Sambava tomato frog, is a special kind of frog. Its scientific name is Dyscophus guineti. These frogs belong to the Microhylidae family.
You can only find these frogs in Madagascar, which means they are endemic there. They live in warm, wet places like subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and swamps. They also like freshwater marshes. Sadly, their homes are disappearing because of habitat loss.
About the False Tomato Frog
What Do They Look Like?
False tomato frogs have different colors and sizes depending on if they are male or female. Male frogs are usually yellowish. They grow to be about 60 to 65 millimeters long. Female frogs are much brighter. They are often red-orange and can have many small patterns on their skin. Females are also bigger, growing to about 90 to 95 millimeters long.
Sometimes, these frogs can have small growths that come from their teeth. These growths can make it hard for their teeth to grow properly.
How Do They Catch Food?
False tomato frogs are clever hunters. They use their tongues and mouths to catch their prey. How they catch their food depends on how close the prey is and how big it is.
If the prey is small and very close, the frog will just aim its head at it. It won't even need to use its tongue much. But if the prey is bigger and a bit further away, the frog changes its strategy. It will aim both its head and its tongue at the prey. This special way of catching larger prey is called hydrostatic elongation.
These frogs can also move their tongues separately from their lower jaw. This helps them change the speed and power of their tongue. It allows them to catch food in many different situations.
