Hyperolius tanneri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hyperolius tanneri |
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Hyperolius tannerorum Schiøtz, 1982 — unjustified emendation |
Meet the Tanner's reed frog, also known as Hyperolius tanneri! This special little frog belongs to the Hyperoliidae family. You can only find it in one place: the West Usambara Mountains in northeastern Tanzania. This makes it an endemic species, meaning it lives nowhere else in the world!
Why Is It Called Tanner's Reed Frog?
The name tanneri was chosen to honor John and Lucie Tanner. They owned a tea farm in Mazumbai, which is where this frog was first discovered. The Tanners were known for being very welcoming to scientists who visited the area.
A scientist named Arne Schiøtz first described this frog in 1982. He originally spelled the name tannerorum. However, the rules for naming species mean the first spelling, tanneri, is the correct one.
What Does the Tanner's Reed Frog Look Like?
These frogs are quite small. Male frogs are about 20 to 23 millimeters long. That's about the length of two small paperclips! Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring 29 to 34 millimeters.
Male and female frogs also have different features. Males have a large, smooth flap under their chin. The frog's back is green. It has light stripes near its eyes and along its sides. Its fingers and toes are yellow. The throat and belly are a pretty blue-green color.
The Tanner's reed frog looks a lot like another frog called Hyperolius spinigularis. But you can tell them apart! The Tanner's reed frog does not have the tiny black spines that Hyperolius spinigularis has on its throat and belly.
Where Does This Frog Live and Why Is It in Danger?
The Tanner's reed frog lives in special places called montane forests. These are undisturbed forests found high up in mountains. Scientists only know of two places where this frog lives. One is near the Mazumbai Forest Reserve, about 1,410 meters above sea level. The other is in the Shume-Magambo Forest Reserve, even higher at 1,920 meters above sea level.
These frogs need small forest swamps to lay their eggs. The only known breeding spot is a swamp next to a small stream in Mazumbai. There might be other suitable swamps in Shume-Magambo too.
Sadly, the number of Tanner's reed frogs is decreasing. Their homes are being lost because of farming, logging, and growing human towns. Even though they live near protected areas, they need more help. Because this frog is found in so few places and its habitat is shrinking, it is listed as "Critically Endangered". This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. Protecting its forest home is very important for its survival!
