Guatemala stream frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guatemala stream frog |
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Atlantihyla panchoi, also known as the Guatemala stream frog, is a type of frog in the family Hylidae. This frog is special because it is found only in eastern Guatemala. It lives in just three known places in the Sierra de las Minas and Montañas del Mico mountain ranges. The frog's scientific name, panchoi, was given to honor Laurence Cooper "Don Pancho" Stuart, an American scientist who studied reptiles and amphibians.
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What the Guatemala Stream Frog Looks Like
Adult male Guatemala stream frogs are about 3.1 to 3.4 centimeters (1.2 to 1.3 inches) long from their snout to their rear. Adult females are a bit larger, with one known specimen measuring 3.7 centimeters (1.5 inches) long.
Body Features
The frog's snout (nose area) is rounded, but it has a pointed tip when you look at it from above. The eardrum, called the tympanum, is round. However, a thick fold of skin above it hides its upper edge.
The frog's fingers have large, sticky pads called discs. Their fingers are about half-webbed. The toes are almost fully webbed and also have sticky pads, but these are a bit smaller than the ones on the fingers.
Colors and Markings
The back of the frog can be grayish-tan with green spots, especially around its eyelids. Sometimes, its back is dark brown with darker gray-brown markings. It has a white stripe along the edge of its upper lip and a white spot just below its eye.
A very noticeable white stripe runs from above its armpit along its sides to its groin. This stripe becomes broken up towards the back. The throat, chest, belly, and the underside of its legs are pale yellow with small dark brown spots. The iris (the colored part) of its eye is a bright blood-orange color.
Tadpoles
A young frog, called a tadpole, at a certain stage of development (Gosner stage 30) measures about 4.3 centimeters (1.7 inches) in total length. Almost three-quarters of this length is its tail.
Where the Frog Lives and How It's Protected
The Guatemala stream frog lives in moist tropical forests. It can be found at elevations from 100 to 895 meters (about 328 to 2,936 feet) above sea level. These frogs often live near streams and do not do well in places where the forest has been damaged. People have seen these frogs sitting on leaves in thick plants, usually about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) high. They lay their eggs and reproduce in streams.
Conservation Status
Even though this frog used to be easy to find in suitable places, it is now uncommon. It might even have disappeared from the first place it was discovered. The Guatemala stream frog is facing threats that put it in danger.
Threats to the Frog
- Habitat Loss: Its home is shrinking because of more farming, cutting down trees for wood, and new human settlements.
- Water Pollution: Dirty water also harms these frogs.
- Disease: A serious frog disease called chytridiomycosis is also a threat.
The good news is that this frog has been found in two protected areas. These are the Sierra de las Minas biosphere reserve and the Reserva Protector de Mantanial Cerro de San Gil (Sierra del Mico). These protected areas help keep the frogs safe.
See also
In Spanish: Ptychohyla panchoi para niños
