Eleutherodactylus rubrimaculatus facts for kids
The Eleutherodactylus rubrimaculatus is a small type of frog. It belongs to a group of frogs called Eleutherodactylidae. You can find this frog in southeastern Pacific Chiapas, Mexico. It also lives in nearby southwestern Guatemala. Its scientific name, rubrimaculatus, means "spotted with red" in Latin. This name describes the frog's skin color. People also call it the dusky chirping frog or the red-spotted chirping frog.
What Does the Red-Spotted Chirping Frog Look Like?
Adult male frogs are about 18 to 24 millimeters long. That's less than an inch! Adult females are a little bit bigger. They measure 19 to 23 millimeters long.
This frog has a clear and fairly large eardrum. The tips of its toes are not very wide. It has two small bumps on its feet, called tubercles. The inner bump is long. The outer one is small and shaped like a cone.
The frog's back is brown and has small red spots. Its belly is gray. Male frogs have special openings called vocal slits. These help them make sounds to call to other frogs.
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Eleutherodactylus rubrimaculatus frog lives in cloud forests. These are special forests found high up in mountains. They are often covered in clouds or mist. This frog lives at heights up to about 1,000 meters (about 3,280 feet) above sea level.
This frog is quite common in the areas where it lives. However, its home is shrinking. People are clearing land for farming. They are also cutting down trees. This causes habitat loss and changes the frog's environment. These actions are big threats to the frog.
Luckily, this frog is found in two protected areas in Mexico. These are the Encrucijada and El Triunfo Biosphere Reserves. These reserves help keep its habitat safe.
See also
- In Spanish: Eleutherodactylus rubrimaculatus para niños
