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Imbabura tree frog facts for kids

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Imbabura tree frog
Boana picturata 189274816 (cropped).jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Synonyms
  • Hyla picturata Boulenger, 1899
  • Hypsiboas picturatus (Boulenger, 1899)

The Imbabura tree frog (Boana picturata) is a type of frog. It belongs to the Hylidae family, also known as the tree frog family. You can find this frog in the lowlands of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador.

It lives in several areas, including the Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, Cauca, and Nariño regions of Colombia. In Ecuador, it is found in Imbabura, Esmeraldas, Manabí, Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Los Ríos, and Cotopaxi. These frogs live from sea level up to about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) high.

Physical Description of the Imbabura Tree Frog

The Imbabura tree frog has some interesting features. Male frogs are usually between 46 and 53 millimeters long. This is measured from their snout to their rear end. Female frogs are larger, measuring from 62 to 69 millimeters.

Eyes and Skin

These frogs have very large eyes. Their eyes have a bright yellow iris, which is the colored part around the pupil. Their snout, or nose area, looks like it has been cut short. The skin on their back is smooth to the touch. However, their belly skin feels a bit bumpy or granular.

Coloration

The color of the Imbabura tree frog can change. Most often, they have a reddish-brown background color. On this background, you can see round yellow marks. Some frogs might have a dark brown back with different brown markings.

Habitat and Conservation Efforts

The Imbabura tree frog lives in specific kinds of places. Its natural habitats are humid tropical forests. It also lives in forests found on the slopes of mountains, known as premontane forests. These frogs can also be found in secondary forests. These are forests that have grown back after being cut down. They prefer areas where the tree canopy is dense and closed.

Where They Live

These frogs usually live on plants and trees. They like to stay close to streams and other water sources. This helps them stay moist and find food.

Conservation Status

The Imbabura tree frog is not a very common species. This means there are not many of them around. Because of this, scientists are concerned about their future.

Threats to the Imbabura Tree Frog

The biggest dangers to these frogs are related to habitat loss. This happens when their forest homes are destroyed. People clear land for farming, including growing certain crops. Logging, which is cutting down trees for wood, also destroys their habitat. Human settlements, like towns and villages, also take up land where these frogs used to live.

Another threat is pollution. This can come from chemicals used in farming. These chemicals can harm the frogs and their environment. Protecting their forest homes is very important for the survival of the Imbabura tree frog.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hypsiboas picturatus para niños

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