John Crow yellow-bellied frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Crow yellow-bellied frog |
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| Kingston, Jamaica, 2020 | |
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Eleutherodactylus pantoni ssp. pentasyringos Schwartz and Fowler, 1973 |
The Eleutherodactylus pentasyringos, also known as the John Crow yellow-bellied frog or tube robber frog, is a type of frog. It belongs to the family Eleutherodactylidae. This special frog lives only in Jamaica, meaning it is endemic to that island.
Its scientific name, pentasyringos, comes from Greek words. It means "calling five times." This name describes the male frog's special call. They usually make five "took"-notes when they are trying to attract a mate.
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About This Frog
These frogs are quite small. Male frogs grow to about 32 millimeters (1.3 inches) long. Female frogs are a bit larger, reaching about 39 millimeters (1.5 inches) long. This measurement is from their snout to their rear end.
What Does It Look Like?
The frog's head is wider than it is long. Its snout, which is its nose area, is quite pointed. It has a small ear drum, called a tympanum, that you can see. The tips of its toes have small pads, called digital discs. Unlike some frogs, it does not have any webbing between its toes.
The back of the frog is usually medium brown. Its patterns can be different on each frog. However, all of them have a dark W-shaped mark on their shoulders. Many also have a dark bar between their eyes. Most of these frogs have a mottled, or spotty, look. Some might have a dark line down their back or stripes along their sides.
The belly of the frog can be pale orange, pale yellow, or white. Adult female frogs, especially those ready to lay eggs, often have the brightest orange bellies. Adult frogs also have tiny, even dark brown spots on their throats.
Where Does It Live?
This frog lives in the northern part of the Blue Mountains and the John Crow Mountains in Jamaica. Its home stretches all the way to the northeastern coast of the island. You can find it from sea level up to about 1,275 meters (4,183 feet) high.
Its Home Environment
The John Crow yellow-bellied frog prefers moist forests. These include rainforests in the mountains, wet limestone forests, and even elfin woodlands. They like rocky areas within these forests.
Life Cycle
These frogs have a unique way of reproducing. They lay their eggs directly on the ground. Unlike many frogs, their eggs do not hatch into tadpoles that live in water. Instead, the eggs develop directly into tiny froglets. This means they skip the free-swimming larval stage completely.
Protecting This Frog
The area where this frog lives is quite small. Sadly, its forest home is shrinking quickly. This is happening because of farming, new human settlements, and logging (cutting down trees). Even in protected areas and national parks, the forests are being lost.
Even though these frogs are still fairly common, their numbers are decreasing. Because their habitat is disappearing so fast, the Eleutherodactylus pentasyringos is considered an endangered species. This means it needs our help to survive.
