Hyperolius koehleri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hyperolius koehleri |
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Chlorolius koehleri (Mertens, 1940) |
Hyperolius koehleri is a small, green frog that lives in parts of Africa. It belongs to a group of frogs called the Hyperoliidae family. You can find this special frog in countries like southeastern Nigeria, southern Cameroon, and northern Gabon. Scientists think it might also live in Equatorial Guinea and the nearby Republic of the Congo. People sometimes call it the Koehler's green frog because of its bright color.
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How Scientists Name Frogs
Scientists give every animal a unique name. This helps everyone know exactly which animal they are talking about. The Hyperolius koehleri frog was first described by a scientist named Robert Mertens in 1940. He found it near Mount Cameroon.
Later, in 1988, another scientist thought this frog was so unique it needed its own group, or genus. He called this new group Chlorolius because the frog was so green, like chlorophyll in plants. He noticed special things about how the male frogs called and where they laid their eggs. He also saw tiny black spines on the males when they were ready to breed.
However, modern science uses special tests that look at an animal's DNA. These tests showed that Hyperolius koehleri actually fits best with other frogs in the Hyperolius group. So, it went back to its original name.
What Does This Frog Look Like?
The Koehler's green frog is quite small. It measures about 26 to 29 millimeters (about 1 inch) from its snout to its rear end. The males are usually 26 to 27 millimeters long.
Its head is quite flat. The frog's back is a bright grass green color. It often has some faint red-brown spots. A bright chrome yellow stripe runs along its sides. Its legs are a bit lighter and more yellowish. The underside of its legs is pale green, and its hands and feet are yellow.
The frog's throat is a pretty turquoise color. Its chest is white, and its belly is a see-through green. Its eyes are golden green, but young frogs might have reddish eyes. The pupil of its eye is shaped like a horizontal line.
When male frogs are ready to breed, they grow many tiny black spines. These spines appear on their sides, the underside of their legs, and on their feet.
Frog Calls and Babies
Male Koehler's green frogs make a very quiet sound. It's a soft twittering or chirping that is hard to hear.
Female frogs lay about 40 to 60 eggs. Each egg is small, measuring about 2 to 2.3 millimeters across. The baby frogs, called tadpoles, can grow up to 39 millimeters long.
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Koehler's green frog lives in wet forests, both in the mountains and in lower areas. It can also be found in grassy fields and even in coffee farms. These frogs live at different heights, from sea level up to about 1,850 meters (over 6,000 feet) high.
They often live near mountain streams. These streams have very clean and well-aerated water, which means the water has lots of oxygen. This is where the frogs like to breed.
Protecting This Frog
It's hard to find the Koehler's green frog because it's so quiet. Scientists don't know exactly how many of these frogs there are.
Even though this frog can adapt to some changes in its home, it faces a big threat. Many forests where it lives are being cut down. This loss of forest can also make the water less clean, which is bad for the frogs. Protecting their forest homes and clean water is very important for the future of the Koehler's green frog.
