Leptodactylus petersii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leptodactylus petersii |
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Platymantis petersii Steindachner, 1864 |
The Peters' thin-toed frog (its scientific name is Leptodactylus petersii) is a type of frog. In Spanish, people call it sapito de Peters, which means "Peters' toadlet". This frog belongs to a group of frogs called Leptodactylidae.
You can find this frog in many places across the Guianas and the Amazon Basin. This includes countries like Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
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About the Peters' Thin-Toed Frog
This frog is named after Wilhelm Peters. He was a German scientist who studied animals. The name petersii was given to honor him.
What Does This Frog Look Like?
Male Peters' thin-toed frogs are usually about 2.7 to 4.1 centimeters long. Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring about 3.1 to 5.1 centimeters.
Their backs can be greenish, grayish-brown, or reddish-brown. They often have dark brown or black spots that are not regular. There is also a dark, triangle-shaped mark between their eyes. Their backs have many small bumps and short, raised lines.
The frog's belly is smooth. It has a white background with lots of gray to black patterns. The throat is dark gray with white spots. This frog has a large eardrum, called a tympanum. There is a clear fold of skin above the eardrum that goes to where the arm connects. The eyes have a bronze to reddish-brown color.
Their fingers have very small or no skin flaps on the sides. However, their toes have wide skin flaps and some webbing at the bottom. Male frogs have two large spines on their thumbs.
Life Cycle and Tadpoles
The baby frogs, called tadpoles, can grow up to 2.1 centimeters long. About 60% of their total length is their tail.
Where Peters' Thin-Toed Frogs Live
You can find Peters' thin-toed frogs in many different places. They live in tropical rainforests and at the edges of forests. They also live in open areas and grassy plains called savannas or cerrados. These areas are usually below 600 meters in height.
This frog is active at night, which means it is a nocturnal animal. You will usually find them on the ground, close to water.
Reproduction and Conservation
Female frogs lay their eggs in a special foam nest near water. Later, the tadpoles will move from this nest into the water.
The Peters' thin-toed frog is a common species. It lives in many protected areas. Because of this, scientists do not think it is in danger of disappearing. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists it as "Least Concern."
