Leptopelis yaldeni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leptopelis yaldeni |
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Leptopelis yaldeni is a special type of frog that belongs to the Arthroleptidae family. It's also known as Yalden's tree frog or grassland forest treefrog. This amazing frog lives only in Ethiopia, especially in the high mountains of Gojjam. Its home might be limited by the deep valleys of the Blue Nile river. Scientists named it after Derek Yalden, a British zoologist who helped discover it.
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What Does Yalden's Tree Frog Look Like?
Adult male frogs are about 26–34 mm (1.0–1.3 in) long. That's roughly the size of a large paperclip! Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring 38–43 mm (1.5–1.7 in) from snout to vent. These frogs have a body shape that is quite slender.
Frog Features
Their snout, which is their nose area, is medium-sized and slightly pointed. They have a round ear drum, called a tympanum, which is easy to see. Their fingers and toes have small, round pads, called digital discs. These help them grip surfaces. They also have some webbing between their toes and their two outer fingers.
Amazing Color Changes
Yalden's tree frog can come in two main colors!
- Brown morph: Some frogs are brown. This color can be light cream, golden, greenish, or even dark purplish-brown. They often have darker patterns on their back. Sometimes, they have a triangle shape or a bar between their eyes.
- Green morph: Other frogs are bright green. This can be blue-green, yellow-green, or even olive. These green frogs usually don't have any patterns on their backs.
The green frogs are more common in higher, open areas. The brown frogs are found in lower areas where there is more plant cover. This helps them blend in with their surroundings!
Sounds of the Frog
Male frogs make a special sound to attract mates. Their call is a series of screams, followed by a quick click.
Tadpole Life
The baby frogs, called tadpoles, have a short, deep body. They also have a relatively long tail. The biggest tadpoles found, which were starting to grow back legs, were about 67 mm (2.6 in) long.
Where Does This Frog Live?
Leptopelis yaldeni lives in mountain grasslands. It can also be found in places where humans live, like small villages. These frogs live at high elevations, from 2,000–2,700 m (6,600–8,900 ft) above sea level.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
These frogs usually breed near the edges of small streams. Male frogs will call out from places where they can be seen. If there are tall plants, they might climb up to call. But they can also call from the ground if the stream bank is bare.
The female frogs lay their eggs in nests on land, very close to the water. Once the eggs hatch, the tadpoles then develop and grow in the water.
Conservation Status
Leptopelis yaldeni is a common frog. In many places, there are lots of them! Even though they can live in areas changed by people, things like more cities and farms could harm them. We don't know if this frog lives in any protected areas right now.
