Eleutherodactylus ruthae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eleutherodactylus ruthae |
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The Eleutherodactylus ruthae is a type of frog often called Ruth's robber frog. It belongs to the Eleutherodactylidae family. This frog lives only on the island of Hispaniola. You can find it in different places across both Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
A scientist named Gladwyn Kingsley Noble first described this frog in 1923. He named it after his wife, Ruth Crosby Noble, who was the first person to find this species. Scientists think that this might actually be more than one type of frog. Some frogs like Eleutherodactylus aporostegus, Eleutherodactylus bothroboans, and Eleutherodactylus tychaethrous were once thought to be just different kinds of Eleutherodactylus ruthae. But now, they are considered their own separate species.
What Does Ruth's Robber Frog Look Like?
The first Eleutherodactylus ruthae frog studied was an adult male. It measured about 49 millimeters (almost 2 inches) from its snout to its bottom. Its snout, or nose area, is shaped like a shovel.
The frog's back is covered in spots. Its skin feels bumpy and has small warts, especially on the sides of its body.
Where Does This Frog Live and How Is It Protected?
Ruth's robber frog lives in different kinds of forests. It can be found in dry pine forests or more moist forests. These frogs live from sea level up to about 900 meters (about 2,950 feet) high.
Male frogs call out from hidden spots underground. This is also where they lay their eggs.
Scientists believe that the number of these frogs is going down. They are hard to find because there are fewer of them. The biggest problem for these frogs is habitat loss. This means their homes are being destroyed by people cutting down trees and using land for farming.
Even in places where their homes are still good, the frogs are disappearing. Other things might also be causing this decline. These include animals that hunt them, changes in the climate, and a frog disease called chytridiomycosis.
See also
- In Spanish: Eleutherodactylus ruthae para niños
