Javelin frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Javelin frog |
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The javelin frog (Litoria microbelos) is a very small frog that lives in northern Australia. People also call it the pygmy rocket frog or cairns tree frog. It is one of the tiniest frogs you can find in Australia!
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Javelin Frog
The javelin frog is a fascinating little creature. It gets its name from its quick movements, like a javelin. This frog is special because of its small size and where it chooses to live.
What Does It Look Like?
These frogs are super tiny. They are usually less than 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) long. This makes them one of the smallest frogs in all of Australia!
Their skin is typically light brown. They often have dark brown stripes along their bodies. This coloring helps them blend in with their surroundings.
Where Does It Live?
The javelin frog lives in the northern parts of Australia. You can find them in northern and central Queensland. They also live in a region called the Kimberley in Western Australia.
These frogs prefer places that get wet only sometimes. They like areas that flood for a short time, rather than places with water all year round. This means they don't usually live in permanent ponds or lakes.
When they are not looking for food or laying eggs, adult javelin frogs like to hide. They often stay safe in tall grass. They might also hide under rocks or fallen logs.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Javelin frogs have an interesting way of laying their eggs. Instead of permanent ponds, they choose places that are only flooded for a short time. These temporary pools are perfect for their eggs to hatch.
After the eggs hatch, tiny tadpoles emerge. These tadpoles grow quickly in the temporary water. They need to develop into frogs before the water dries up. Once they become small frogs, they can move onto land.
Conservation Status
The javelin frog is currently listed as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN. This means that scientists believe there are plenty of these frogs in the wild. They are not currently at high risk of disappearing.
