Epipedobates machalilla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Epipedobates machalilla |
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The Epipedobates machalilla is a small, slender frog. It belongs to the family Dendrobatidae, which includes many poison dart frogs. This frog is special because it is only found in West Ecuador. It lives in dry, low forests. A scientist named Luis Aurelio Coloma first described this frog in 1995. The IUCN says this frog is of "least concern" for now. This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
What Does This Frog Look Like?
The Epipedobates machalilla is a small frog. Male frogs are about 14.4 to 16 millimeters long. Female frogs are a bit larger, from 15.0 to 17.6 millimeters long. This measurement is from their nose to their bottom.
Their heads are longer than they are wide. They have a small eardrum on the side of their head. Their front legs are not too long. Their fingers do not have webs between them. The toes on their back feet also do not have webs. The tips of their toes are a bit wider. This frog is dark coffee-colored. It has a gold iris in its eyes. Its belly and underside are a creamy color.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The Epipedobates machalilla has a special way of mating. The male frog holds onto the female frog in a "mating hug" called cephalic amplexus. The female frog lays about 15 eggs. She places them on the ground or under leaves.
After laying the eggs, the female frog leaves. The male frog stays behind to protect the developing embryos. About 20 days after the eggs are fertilized, the tadpoles hatch. The male frog then carries the tiny tadpoles on his back. He takes them to safe places like riverbanks or small pools of water. There, the tadpoles can grow and change into young frogs. This process is called metamorphosis.
Some frogs in the Epipedobates group are known as poison dart frogs. They use bright colors to warn predators that they are toxic. This frog, Epipedobates machalilla, looks plain. It does not have the bright warning colors. However, scientists think some groups of these frogs might still be chemically protected. This protection can depend on what they eat.
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Epipedobates machalilla is only found in West Ecuador. It prefers to live in dry, low forests. You can mostly find this frog in several areas of Ecuador. These include Azogues, Bolívar, El Oro, Guayas, Los Rios, and Manabí. It has also been seen in parts of the Choco rainforest.
These frogs live at different heights, from about 10 meters (33 feet) to 515 meters (1,690 feet) above sea level. Sadly, the number of these frogs has been going down recently. This is mainly because of farming and logging (cutting down trees).
