Kalophrynus nubicola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kalophrynus nubicola |
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Kalophrynus nubicola is a special kind of frog that lives only in one place: Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. It's found only in the amazing Gunung Mulu National Park. This little frog is often called the blue-spotted sticky frog or mossy-forest sticky frog. Its scientific name, nubicola, means "dwelling in cloud," which is a clue about where it likes to live! This tiny frog is part of the Microhylidae family, known for their small size.
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What Does This Frog Look Like?
These frogs are quite small! Male frogs are about 14–24 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long. That's about the size of a small button or a fingernail. Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring around 21–24 mm (0.8–0.9 in). They have a sturdy, rounded body shape.
Cool Features of the Sticky Frog
The frog's snout (its nose area) is short and rounded. It has skin that can be smooth or slightly bumpy. Its back is usually brown with some faint darker spots. A cool feature is a yellow V-shape on its snout and above its eyes, edged with dark brown.
The throat and chest of the frog are orange, with lots of dark brown spots. The belly has different patterns, from many small pale spots to a few larger light patches. Male frogs have a special pouch under their throat called a vocal sac, which they use to make calls.
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Kalophrynus nubicola frog lives in montane forests. These are forests found high up on mountains, usually above 1,500 m (4,900 ft). It's a terrestrial frog, meaning it lives on the ground, not in trees or water all the time.
Life in the Cloud Forests
These frogs likely lay their eggs and have their young in small, temporary pools of water that form in the forest. Because they live in such high, misty places, their name "dwelling in cloud" makes perfect sense!
Protecting the Sticky Frog
This frog is only found in Gunung Mulu National Park, which is a very well-protected area. Even though it lives in a small area, experts believe it is not currently in danger. This is great news for the blue-spotted sticky frog!
