Jagath Gunawardana's shrub frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jagath Gunawardana's shrub frog |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
Pseudophilautus jagathgunawardanai is a tiny frog from Sri Lanka. It is also known as Jagath Gunawardana's shrub frog. This special frog lives only in Sri Lanka's wet forests. It is part of the Rhacophoridae family, often called "shrub frogs" or "tree frogs."
This frog is endemic to Sri Lanka. This means it is found naturally nowhere else in the world. Scientists first discovered it in 2013.
Contents
About Jagath Gunawardana's Shrub Frog
Where It Lives
This unique frog lives in the wet lowland forests of Sri Lanka. Scientists have only found it in one specific spot. This place is Sripada Peak, also known as Adam's Peak. It lives high up, between 1600 and 1750 meters above sea level.
The frog prefers to live in cloud forests. These are forests that are often covered in clouds or mist. It can be found from the ground up to 6 meters high in trees. It especially likes trees that have lichen growing on their bark.
What It Looks Like
Adult female Jagath Gunawardana's shrub frogs are quite small. They measure about 35.8 to 40.4 millimeters long. This length is measured from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom).
The frog's back is light brown. It has dark brown marks over its eyes. There is also a dark brown triangle shape on its head. The sides of its body are olive green. Its legs are light brown with some green patches. The feet have dark brown marks. The tips of its toes and its belly are an off-white color.
Its Special Life Cycle
Most frogs lay eggs that hatch into tadpoles. Tadpoles live in water and swim. But Pseudophilautus jagathgunawardanai is different. Like other frogs in the Pseudophilautus group, it skips the tadpole stage.
Instead, these frogs hatch directly from their eggs as tiny froglets. This means they never swim as tadpoles. They are born looking like miniature versions of the adult frogs.
Why It Needs Help
Sadly, Jagath Gunawardana's shrub frog is an endangered species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. The biggest threat to this frog is habitat loss.
Its home is being destroyed by human activities. These include cities growing larger, trees being cut down for wood, and more land being used for farming and raising animals. Scientists are working to protect this special frog and its forest home.
Who Was Jagath Gunawardana?
Scientists named this frog after Dr. Jagath Gunawardana. He was a very important person in Sri Lanka. Dr. Gunawardana was a lawyer. He was also a naturalist, someone who studies nature.
He worked very hard to protect nature and wildlife in Sri Lanka. Naming the frog after him honors his great efforts in conservation.
See also
- Jagath Gunawardana
