Hyperolius sheldricki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hyperolius sheldricki |
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Hyperolius viridiflavus sheldricki — Laurent, 1976 |
The Sheldrick's reed frog (also called the Aruba Dam reed frog) is a tiny frog. It belongs to a group of frogs called Hyperoliidae. This special frog lives only in a small part of southeast Kenya. It was first found in the Tsavo East National Park.
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Why is it called Sheldrick's Reed Frog?
This frog is named after David Sheldrick. He was the warden of Tsavo East National Park. The scientists who found the frog named it after him. They wanted to thank him for his great help.
Frog Family Tree
Scientists group living things into families. The Sheldrick's reed frog is part of a larger group. This group is called the Hyperolius viridiflavus species complex. Some scientists are still discussing if it should be its own species.
What Does it Look Like?
Male Sheldrick's reed frogs are small. They measure about 18 to 24 millimeters long. That's less than an inch! They have a very large throat sac. This sac has a big flap to protect it. Their toes have lots of webbing. This helps them swim. They also have a small bump on their upper eyelid.
These frogs can have two different looks. Males in the "female" phase have dark brown stripes. These stripes are on a light brown body. They also have dark brown spots on their back. Spots are also on their arms and legs. Their belly is white. The underside of their hands, feet, and upper legs are dark maroon.
Males in the "juvenile" phase look different. Their back is mostly plain and whitish.
Where Do They Live and How Are They Doing?
Sheldrick's reed frogs live in wet places. They are found in plants along swamps, rivers, and lakes. They can live in many different areas. This includes dry savanna, shrubland, and grasslands. They also live in places changed by people. This includes farms. They can quickly move into new water areas.
These frogs lay their eggs in ponds. These ponds can be very small or very large. They are usually temporary ponds. This means they might dry up sometimes. The eggs are laid right into the water. Male frogs start calling for mates. They do this in the grass near ponds. They call just a few days after heavy rains start. This happens after dry periods.
We only know for sure about two places where this frog lives. One of these places is in the Tsavo East National Park. But scientists think they might live in more places. The group that studies amphibians says we don't have enough information. So, they have listed the frog as "Data Deficient." This means we need to learn more about them.
