Leptodactylus nesiotus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leptodactylus nesiotus |
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Scientific classification |
The Leptodactylus nesiotus is a type of frog. It belongs to the Leptodactylidae family. This frog was first found in the Icacos Swamp on Trinidad Island. For a long time, people thought it only lived there. But in 2018, these frogs were also seen in Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Scientists think it might also live in Venezuela and other parts of northern South America. It is very similar to another frog called Leptodactylus validus.
What's in a Name? The Islander Frog
The name nesiotus comes from a Greek word. That word is nesiotes, which means "islander". This name was chosen because when the frog was first described, it was only known to live on Trinidad Island.
How to Spot a Leptodactylus nesiotus
This frog is quite small. Adult males are about 31.7 to 33.3 millimeters long. That's about 1.2 to 1.3 inches. Their snout, or nose area, looks rounded from the side. From above, it looks rounded and oval-shaped.
They have an ear drum, called a tympanum, that is a medium size. There's a clear fold of skin above their ear drum. Their fingers have small ridges on the sides. Their toes have well-developed fringes on the sides.
A special mark on this frog is a light stripe. This stripe is on its upper lip. It goes at least to the area under its eye. The frogs that have been preserved look brown-gray. They have lighter and darker shades. Male frogs have a single internal vocal sac. This helps them make sounds.
Where These Frogs Live and How They Are Doing
The frogs living on Trinidad Island are found in a swamp. This swamp is mostly untouched by humans. So, the frogs there are not facing many dangers.
The frogs living on the mainland are found along the coasts. They live in savannas and swamps in northern South America. These areas provide a continuous habitat for the species. This means they have plenty of space to live and move around.