Hyperolius nitidulus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hyperolius nitidulus |
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The plain reed frog, also known as Hyperolius nitidulus, is a type of frog. It belongs to the Hyperoliidae family. You can find these frogs in the savannas of West Africa. They live in countries like Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
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About the Plain Reed Frog
What They Look Like
Plain reed frogs are medium-sized. They have a snout that is a bit blunt. Male frogs are usually 23 to 29 millimeters long. They weigh about one gram. Female frogs are bigger and heavier. They can be 24 to 32 millimeters long. Before laying eggs, females weigh about two grams.
These frogs have a large opening in the roof of their mouth called a choana. Unlike most frogs, this opening is not hidden. Their tongue is quite large and shaped like a heart. When you look at them from above, their body is round. From the side, their body looks flat. Their nostrils are close to the tip of their snout.
Their skin is smooth on the sides. It also has small bumps, like warts. Their body is thin and somewhat cylinder-shaped. They have thin legs. They also have special skin folds. These folds help them hide their feet when they are resting during dry times. Their fingers and toes have special pads called circummarginal discs. Male frogs have a vocal sac under their throat. They use this sac to make calls.
How Their Color Changes
When young, these frogs are beige. They have a darker stripe along their sides. As they grow into adults, their color can change. This is called metachrosis. It depends on things like temperature and how humid it is. At night, they are usually plain beige. During the day, their color can change to yellow or orange. They might also have spots.
During the dry season, young frogs turn white. This helps them rest and save energy. The skin on the inside of their legs turns red. This is because of tiny blood vessels underneath.
What They Eat
Adult plain reed frogs are insect eaters. They mostly eat insects like Drosophila (fruit flies), Musca (house flies), Phormia, Lucilia, and Calliphora (blow flies).
Plain Reed Frog Life Cycle
Mating and Calls
Plain reed frogs usually breed during the wet season. This is from May to October. During this time, male frogs move to temporary ponds. They might stay there for days or weeks. Females only visit the ponds to lay their eggs.
Males start calling between dusk and midnight. They have two different calls. One call is for mating. It helps them attract females. The other call is a territorial call. This call tells other males to stay away from their space.
The mating call is short and sounds metallic. It lasts about 0.16 to 0.24 seconds. The sound frequency is between 2.04 and 3.43 Kilohertz. This frequency changes based on the frog's size. The territorial call sounds like a "croak." It is deeper and lasts longer. It lasts about 0.28 to 0.36 seconds. The frequency is between 0.98 and 2.0 Kilohertz. Male frogs can become aggressive when protecting their small calling spots.
Laying Eggs and Tadpoles
Female frogs lay their eggs in the water. They attach the eggs to plants at the bottom of the pond. A female can lay between 94 and 800 eggs at one time. They can lay several groups of eggs during one mating season. However, the number of eggs in each group will get smaller. The parents do not take care of the eggs or young. The eggs are white with a dark brown spot.
The embryos hatch into free-swimming tadpoles within two to five days. How fast they develop depends on the water temperature. The tadpoles stay in the plants at the edge of the pond. They eat algae. During this time, many predators can eat them. These include dragonfly and beetle larvae, turtles, and most fish.
The tadpole stage lasts six to eight weeks. After this, the tadpoles change into small frogs. This change is called metamorphosis. It takes about two months for the frog to become fully grown.
Where Plain Reed Frogs Live
Hyperolius nitidulus live near swamps, rivers, and lakes. They prefer savanna, grassland, and bushland areas. They are very good at adapting to different places. You can also find them in areas changed by humans. This includes farms, towns, and gardens.
How They Survive the Dry Season
Plain reed frogs live in a place with a wet season and a very hot, dry season. During the dry season, they need water to survive. They have special ways to deal with the extreme heat. Hyperolius nitidulus is known for its unique behavior during the hot, dry season. This is called aestivation.
During the dry season, these frogs do not hide. Instead, they sit on dry plants. They expose themselves to the sun. This helps them lose water slowly. They can stay in this sitting position for months. They do not need food or water during this time. Young frogs only move if they are in serious danger. They sit with their legs tucked tightly to their body. Their feet are hidden under their skin folds.
Since they don't eat or drink, young frogs do not urinate or poop. Their body stores all waste as urea and purines in their body fluids. As the weather gets hotter, the skin on their back turns white. This is because of special cells called iridophores. These cells are full of purine crystals. They can reflect light like a mirror. This helps keep the frog cool.
Only young frogs usually survive the dry season. Most adult frogs cannot adapt to the harsh conditions and die. Young frogs born early in the wet season have enough time to grow and reproduce. But they use all their energy for growth and reproduction. This means they don't save enough energy for the dry season. They will die when the dry season starts.
Young frogs born later in the wet season take their time growing. They prepare for the dry season. These later-born young do not reproduce. Instead, they save all their energy. This helps them survive the dry season. They hope to reproduce in the next wet season.
