Isthmohyla zeteki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Isthmohyla zeteki |
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Hyla zeteki Gaige, 1929 |
Isthmohyla zeteki is a type of frog that lives in the rainforests of Costa Rica and western Panama. It belongs to the Hylidae family, which are also known as treefrogs. This frog is named after James Zetek, an American scientist who studied insects in Panama. People sometimes call it Zetek's treefrog.
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What Does Zetek's Treefrog Look Like?
Isthmohyla zeteki are small treefrogs. Male frogs grow to about 24 mm (0.94 in) long, and females are a bit bigger, reaching about 27 mm (1.1 in) from their snout (nose) to their vent (tail end). They have large eyes and a clear eardrum, called a tympanum.
Their fingers have big sticky pads, called discs, which help them climb. They also have a little bit of webbing between their fingers. Their outer toes are about two-thirds webbed, but their inner toe is mostly free. The sticky pads on their toes are smaller than those on their fingers.
The color of their back can be yellowish-tan or green. Their belly is a see-through white. Their eyes can be dull red, reddish-brown, or a shiny pinkish-bronze color.
How Do Zetek's Treefrogs Communicate?
Male Zetek's treefrogs make a special call to attract females. This call lasts about four seconds and has five short sounds, called notes. The second and third notes are the shortest. The last two notes are the longest, but they have a slower beat.
Where Do Zetek's Treefrogs Live?
These frogs live in wet mountain forests, usually between 1,200–1,800 m (3,900–5,900 ft) above sea level. They are known as "canopy species" because they live high up in the trees, often in plants called bromeliads. Bromeliads are plants that grow on other plants and collect water in their leaves. This is where the frog's tadpoles (baby frogs) grow and develop.
Zetek's treefrogs can also be found in areas changed by humans, like pastures, as long as there are still suitable trees with bromeliads. They have even been seen living in large bromeliads that grow on the ground.
Are Zetek's Treefrogs Safe?
In Costa Rica, the number of Zetek's treefrogs seems to be steady in places where they have good homes. However, it's hard to count these frogs because they live high in the trees! In Panama, their homes are being lost, which might be causing problems for the frogs there.
See also
In Spanish: Isthmohyla zeteki para niños
