Hyloxalus bocagei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hyloxalus bocagei |
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Colostethus bocagei (Jiménez de la Espada, 1870) |
Hyloxalus bocagei is a cool type of frog. It belongs to the Dendrobatidae family, which includes many interesting frogs. You can find this frog in the Andes mountains, specifically in parts of Ecuador and Colombia. Its name, bocagei, is a tribute to a Portuguese zoologist named José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage. People also call it the Bocage's rocket frog.
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What Does It Look Like?
Adult Frogs
Male Hyloxalus bocagei frogs are about 20 to 25 millimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) long. Females are a bit bigger, measuring 24 to 30 millimeters (0.9 to 1.2 inches). Their backs are usually olive-brown with dark brown spots. They have a dark brown stripe on their sides.
You might also see creamy or golden stripes on their sides. These stripes go from their eyes down to their legs. They have two small golden glands near each eye. The frog's eyes have golden irises with tiny black spots. The eardrum area, called the tympanum, is cream-colored. Their bellies are a plain gray. Their skin is mostly smooth. Some frogs might have small bumps on their lower backs and sides.
Tadpoles
The tadpoles of the Bocage's rocket frog have a mouth on their underside. Their backs are brown with golden sparkles. Their tails are pinkish with brown and golden spots near the front. If you look at their undersides, they are clear. You can see two shiny silver marks at the front. There's also a golden mark on their top fin.
Tadpoles can be from 11.8 to 34 millimeters (0.46 to 1.3 inches) long. Their tail makes up about two-thirds of their total length. When young frogs first change from tadpoles, they are very small. They measure about 9.6 to 12.5 millimeters (0.38 to 0.49 inches) long.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Male Hyloxalus bocagei frogs make a long trilling sound. This call is made up of two notes repeated quickly. Males have been heard calling in the late morning.
These frogs lay their eggs on the forest floor, hidden among fallen leaves. The male frog stays with the eggs to protect them. Once the eggs hatch, the tiny tadpoles climb onto the male's back. The male then carries them to a stream or other water source. This is where the tadpoles will continue to grow and develop.
Where They Live and How We Protect Them
Hyloxalus bocagei frogs live in mountain forests near streams. They can be found at elevations from 427 to 1750 meters (about 1,400 to 5,740 feet) above sea level. They are active during the day. Their tadpoles grow up in streams.
Sadly, these frogs are threatened by habitat loss. This means their natural homes are disappearing. Luckily, some of their habitat is protected. Their range overlaps with the Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park. This park helps to keep their forest homes safe.
