Eupsophus vertebralis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eupsophus vertebralis |
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Eupsophus vertebralis releasing a sticky secretion from its skin. | |
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Scientific classification |
Eupsophus vertebralis is a small frog also known as the Valdivian ground frog. It belongs to a family of frogs called Alsodidae. You can find this special frog in the forests and rivers of Argentina and Chile. It likes cool, wet places like temperate forests, rivers, and marshy areas that sometimes dry up. Sadly, this frog is facing a big problem: its home is disappearing.
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Discovering the Valdivian Ground Frog
The Valdivian ground frog was first officially described in 1961 by a scientist named Grandison. This means that's when it got its scientific name, Eupsophus vertebralis, and became known to the wider scientific world. It's a unique creature that helps make up the amazing variety of life in South America.
Where Does the Valdivian Ground Frog Live?
This frog is native to two countries in South America: Argentina and Chile. It lives in a specific type of environment called a temperate forest. These forests are not too hot and not too cold, and they get plenty of rain. The frog also likes to live near rivers and in marshes. Marshes are wet, grassy areas, and sometimes these marshes can dry up and fill with water again, depending on the season. These habitats provide the perfect damp conditions for the frog to thrive.
Why Is This Frog in Danger?
The biggest threat to the Valdivian ground frog is habitat loss. This means that the places where it lives are being destroyed or changed. When forests are cut down for farming, building, or other human activities, the frogs lose their homes. When rivers become polluted or marshes are drained, the frogs can't survive there anymore. Protecting these natural spaces is super important to help this frog and many other animals continue to live and grow.
See also
In Spanish: Eupsophus vertebralis para niños