Leptopelis modestus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leptopelis modestus |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Clade: | Leptopelis |
| Species: |
L. modestus
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| Binomial name | |
| Leptopelis modestus (Werner, 1898)
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| Synonyms | |
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Hylambates rufus var. modesta Werner, 1898 |
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The Leptopelis modestus, also known as the modest forest treefrog or plain tree frog, is a type of frog. It belongs to the Arthroleptidae family. This small frog lives in parts of Africa.
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Meet the Modest Forest Treefrog
This frog was first described in 1898. An Austrian scientist named Franz Werner discovered it. He found the first frogs in Cameroon.
The Leptopelis modestus lives in different places. Scientists sometimes disagree on its exact home. This is because some similar frogs were once thought to be the same species.
Today, we know that the modest forest treefrog lives in southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon. It can also be found on the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea.
What Does It Look Like?
These frogs are not very big. Adult males are about 2.6 to 3.5 centimeters long. Females are a bit larger, measuring about 3.6 to 4.1 centimeters.
Their back, called the dorsum, is usually greyish-brown. It might have a faint, darker pattern that looks a bit like an hourglass. Some of these frogs have a clear white spot just below their eye.
One cool thing about the males is their throat. When they are calling, it can be green or blue! This special color helps tell them apart from other similar frogs. They also have bigger toe pads and a different call.
Sounds of the Forest
Male Leptopelis modestus frogs make a special sound. This sound is called an advertisement call. They use it to attract females.
Their call is a deep, loud "clack" sound. It's not very musical. Sometimes they repeat the clack twice. Other times, they just make a short, quick clack.
Where They Live and How We Can Help Them
The modest forest treefrog lives in mountain forests. It also likes areas with thick, secondary brush. You can often find them near streams, hiding in the plants. They do not live in open areas outside the forest.
These frogs need still water or marshes to lay their eggs. This is where their babies, called tadpoles, will grow.
The Leptopelis modestus is a common frog. However, its home is slowly shrinking. People are building more homes and farms. They are also collecting wood from the forests. This loss of habitat can make it harder for these frogs to survive. Protecting their forest homes is important for their future.
 | John T. Biggers |
 | Thomas Blackshear |
 | Mark Bradford |
 | Beverly Buchanan |
