Eleutherodactylus corona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eleutherodactylus corona |
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Eleutherodactylus corona is a special kind of frog that belongs to the Eleutherodactylidae family. It is found only in one specific place: the Massif de la Hotte in Haiti. This means it's endemic to that area, so you won't find it anywhere else in the world! Its name, corona, comes from a Latin word meaning "crown." This is because these frogs have unique bumps, like a tiny crown, on top of their heads. People also call it the Caye Paul robber frog.
What Does It Look Like?
These frogs are quite small. Adult males are about 17.2–18.4 mm (0.68–0.72 in) long from their snout to their rear end. Females are a bit larger, measuring about 16.6–19.1 mm (0.65–0.75 in). They weigh around 0.5 grams (0.02 oz), which is less than a paperclip!
Their bodies are quite flat from top to bottom. Their head is as wide as their body. On top of their head, they have one or more distinct, cone-shaped bumps. Their snout, which is their nose area, is somewhat pointed.
The tympanum is like their eardrum, and it's round and medium-sized. The skin on their back is smooth or slightly bumpy. The sides of their body are bumpy, and their belly skin is very bumpy. All their fingers and toes have small ridges on the sides and wide tips, but they don't have any webbing between them.
The main color of their back can be greenish-yellow or greenish-tan. Sometimes, their rear end might even be orange. Their upper eyelids have a cool, shiny, light greenish-blue color. Their eyes have a golden-brown iris, which is the colored part of the eye.
You might see a dark brown V-shape or W-shape marking on their shoulders. Their head often has more dark brown spots than their body. Some frogs also have light brown bars on their lower legs. Their belly is a shiny light green, and the rest of their underside is yellowish-green.
Where Do They Live and How Are They Protected?
The Eleutherodactylus corona lives in a high-up cloud forest, about 1,120 m (3,670 ft) above sea level. A cloud forest is a special type of forest that is often covered in clouds or mist. This frog is very rare and lives in trees, which means it's an arboreal species.
Male frogs make calls from plants like bromeliads or orchids. These plants often grow on other trees.
Sadly, this frog is in danger because its home is disappearing. This is mainly due to people cutting down trees for charcoal, which is used for cooking. Another problem is slash-and-burn agriculture, where people cut down and burn forests to clear land for farming.
Even though these frogs live in the Pic Macaya National Park, there isn't enough active work being done to protect them. Because of this, their habitat continues to be lost, even inside the park. It's important to protect these unique frogs and their forest home!
