Leptopelis boulengeri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leptopelis boulengeri |
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The Leptopelis boulengeri is a type of frog that belongs to the Arthroleptidae family. It's also known as the Victoria forest treefrog. You can find this frog in parts of Africa, including southeastern Nigeria, southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (even on the island of Bioko), Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and western Democratic Republic of the Congo. Scientists also think it might live in the Central African Republic and the Cabinda Enclave in Angola. Its common name, Victoria forest treefrog, comes from where it was first discovered: "Victoria, Kamerun," which is now called Limbe.
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How This Frog Got Its Name
The name boulengeri was given to this frog to honor George Albert Boulenger. He was a famous zoologist from Belgium and Britain. Mr. Boulenger was very important because he discovered and described many new animal species. These included different kinds of fish, reptiles, and amphibians, like this frog!
What Does the Victoria Forest Treefrog Look Like?
These frogs come in different sizes. Adult male frogs are usually about 3.7 to 4.8 centimeters (about 1.5 to 1.9 inches) long. Female frogs are bigger, measuring about 6 to 8.1 centimeters (about 2.4 to 3.2 inches) from their snout to their rear.
Their back, or dorsum, is usually brown. Sometimes, you might even see a green one! Brown frogs often have a dark line between their eyes. They also have a dark triangle shape on their back that points towards their head. Sometimes, these markings are just dark spots instead. A cool feature is a bright white spot right under each eye. Their snout area, called the canthus rostralis, looks quite sharp and angular.
Where Do These Frogs Live?
The Victoria forest treefrog is an arboreal species. This means it loves to live in trees! You can often hear the male frogs calling out from high up in the branches. They like to sit on vines and branches in thick rainforests, sometimes as high as 5 or 6 meters (about 16 to 20 feet) above the ground. These frogs prefer untouched, dense forests and do not usually live in areas where the forest has been disturbed.
Life Cycle and Conservation
When it's time to lay eggs, the female frogs build nests underground. They usually choose spots close to streams. This helps keep the eggs safe and moist until they hatch.
The Victoria forest treefrog is a common species, which is good news! However, its forest home is facing some challenges. Things like farms expanding, trees being cut down for wood, and more human settlements are affecting their habitat. Luckily, these frogs live in several protected areas. These include the Korup National Park in Cameroon and the Monte Alén National Park in Equatorial Guinea. These parks help protect their forest homes and keep the frog population healthy.
