False green robber frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids False green robber frog |
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Pelorius chlorophenax (Schwartz, 1976) |
The false green robber frog is a special kind of frog. Its scientific name is Eleutherodactylus chlorophenax. This frog lives only in one place: the Massif de la Hotte mountains in southwestern Haiti. It is a critically endangered species, meaning it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name for this frog, chlorophenax, comes from two ancient Greek words. 'Chloro' means 'green', which describes the frog's usual color. 'Phenax' means 'imposter' or 'fake'. This part of the name is because the false green robber frog looks a lot like another frog called Eleutherodactylus inoptatus.
How to Spot This Frog
The first false green robber frog ever studied was an adult male. It was about 59 millimeters (or 2.3 inches) long from its snout to its rear end. This is the biggest size recorded for male frogs of this species. Female frogs can grow a bit larger, up to 77 millimeters (about 3 inches) long.
This frog's head is a little wider than it is long. Its snout, or nose area, is flat at the end. You can see its eardrum, called the tympanum, on the side of its head.
Colors and Patterns
The frog's back can be either green or tan, sometimes with green patches. Some frogs have faint dark spots on their shoulders and light lines along their sides. But mostly, their backs do not have many clear patterns.
Feet and Toes
The false green robber frog has long fingers and toes. Its fingers are not webbed, but its toes have a small amount of webbing between them. Both its fingers and toes have fairly large pads, or discs, at the tips. These pads help the frog grip surfaces.
Where It Lives and Why It Needs Help
The false green robber frog lives in special places. It prefers high-up hardwood forests and pine forests found in ravines. These areas are usually between 990 to 1,290 meters (about 3,250 to 4,230 feet) above sea level.
Sadly, the places where this frog lives are being destroyed very quickly. People are cutting down trees to make charcoal, which is a major problem. Also, a farming method called "slash-and-burn" agriculture is harming its home. This method involves cutting down and burning forests to clear land for crops.
Part of the frog's home is inside the Pic Macaya National Park. However, this park is not actively managed to protect the animals and plants living there. This means the false green robber frog is still in great danger.
