Jerdon's narrow-mouthed frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jerdon's narrow-mouthed frog |
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Uperodon montanus, also known as the Jerdon's narrow-mouthed frog, is a special type of frog. People also call it the mountain dot frog or Malabar Hill frog. This frog is found only in the Western Ghats of India. It belongs to the Microhylidae family, which are often called narrow-mouthed frogs.
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What Does This Frog Look Like?
Jerdon's narrow-mouthed frogs are small. They have special sticky pads, called discs, on their fingers. However, they do not have these discs on their toes. Their toes have some webbing, which helps them move in water.
These frogs have smooth skin, but it can feel a bit bumpy. Their upper side is brown with darker spots. They are about 34 to 36 millimeters long from their snout to their bottom. That's about the length of a small paperclip!
Frog Calls
Male frogs have a single vocal sac under their throat. This sac expands like a balloon when they call. They make a sound like brong... brong... brong. They usually call after heavy rains in June or July.
Males start calling after sunset and continue all night. They float on the water in small ponds while calling. Females will come closer to the calling males for mating.
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Jerdon's narrow-mouthed frog lives in the Western Ghats of India. This mountain range stretches from Dangs to southern Kerala. These frogs prefer forests that get a lot of rain.
You can find them in Moist deciduous forests, Semi-evergreen forests, and Evergreen forests. They especially like tree holes that fill up with rainwater. These tree holes are their favorite small homes, called microhabitats.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Most Indian microhylid frogs lay their eggs floating on the water. But Uperodon montanus is different. They attach their egg masses to tree trunks just above the water level. Sometimes, they place them on a floating leaf.
When mating, the male frog holds the female from behind. This special hug is called amplexus. They do this in the water. These frogs also go into a deep sleep during the summer. This is called aestivation. It helps them survive when it's hot and dry.
