Pulchrana mangyanum facts for kids
The Mangyan frog (Pulchrana mangyanum) is a type of "true frog." It belongs to the Ranidae family. This special frog lives only in the Philippines. You can find it on the islands of Mindoro, Sibay, and Semirara. Before scientists officially described it in 2002, people sometimes mixed up the Mangyan frog with another frog called Pulchrana signata.
Quick facts for kids Pulchrana mangyanum |
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| This stamp from 1999 likely shows the Mangyan frog. Before 2002, this frog was sometimes confused with a similar frog from Sumatra. | |
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Where Does Its Name Come From?
The Mangyan frog's scientific name, mangyanum, comes from the Mangyan people. They are a group of native people who live on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines.
What Does the Mangyan Frog Look Like?
Male Mangyan frogs are about 34–59 mm (1.3–2.3 in) long. Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring about 48–69 mm (1.9–2.7 in) long. This measurement is from their snout (nose) to their vent (tail end).
Their snout is rounded and a bit long. They have large eyes that stick out. You can clearly see their tympanum, which is like their eardrum.
The frog's fingers have medium-sized pads, but they do not have webbing between them. Their toes are long and have pads that are bigger than the ones on their fingers. Their toes do have webbing.
The color of the Mangyan frog can be very different from one frog to another. Their back, head, and snout can be almost all black or very dark brown. Some frogs might have golden yellow or brown patches in the middle of their back.
They also have lines along their sides, above their legs. These lines can be thin or thick, from 1.2–3.8 mm (0.05–0.15 in). Females usually have thicker lines than males. These lines can be straight or wiggly. They can be solid grey, tan, or golden yellow. Sometimes, they even have small round brown spots.
Where Does the Mangyan Frog Live and How Is It Protected?
The Mangyan frog lives near streams and rivers. You can find them in forests on mountains and in lowlands. They live at elevations below 700 m (2,300 ft). They like areas that are not too disturbed by people, but they can also live in places that have been slightly changed.
Male frogs call out while sitting on rocks or ledges. They might also hide in the grass along the riverbanks. They are always very close to the water, usually within half a meter. The baby frogs, called tadpoles, grow in calm pools of water next to the rivers.
Even though these frogs can live in slightly disturbed areas, they do not do well with too much change to their home. Their habitat is threatened by farming methods like slash-and-burn agriculture. Collecting wood from the forests also harms their homes.
However, in some places, you can still find many Mangyan frogs. They are present in some protected areas on Mindoro Island. This helps to keep them safe.
