Gastrotheca atympana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gastrotheca atympana |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
The Gastrotheca atympana is a special kind of frog that belongs to the Hemiphractidae family. It is found only in Peru, which means it is endemic to that country. This frog is known from just one specific place: the Pampa Hermosa National Sanctuary in the Junín Region.
Its scientific name, atympana, is interesting because it tells us something about the frog itself. "Atympana" means it does not have an outer eardrum, which is called a tympanum.
Contents
Meet the Gastrotheca atympana Frog
What Does It Look Like?
The very first Gastrotheca atympana frog ever studied was an adult male. It measured about 47 millimeters (almost 2 inches) from its snout to its bottom. As its name suggests, this frog does not have an outer eardrum.
Its back and sides are a light gray color. It has orange-brown markings with thin, dark brown edges. The skin on its back feels a bit rough. The frog's eyes, specifically the iris, are a pale yellowish-tan on the top part and light gray on the bottom, with black lines crisscrossing them.
Where Does It Live and Why Is It Special?
The Gastrotheca atympana frog lives in wet mountain forests. These forests are found at a high elevation, around 1540 meters (about 5,052 feet) above sea level. Scientists have found these frogs in thick forest areas, often sitting on tree branches about 1.2 meters (nearly 4 feet) above the ground.
This frog is quite rare! Only two of these frogs have ever been found, one in 2003 and another in 2004. Even with regular searches, more have not been discovered.
Outside of the Pampa Hermosa National Sanctuary, this frog's home is threatened by several human activities. These include illegal logging (cutting down trees without permission), slash and burn agriculture (clearing land by burning plants), mining activities, and building new roads. There is a worry that these activities could eventually spread into the protected sanctuary, putting the Gastrotheca atympana frog at even greater risk.
See also
In Spanish: Gastrotheca atympana para niños
