Kuranda tree frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kuranda tree frog |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Ranoidea (genus)
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| Species: |
myola
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The Kuranda tree frog (Ranoidea myola) is a special type of frog that lives in Australia. It is found only in a small area of Queensland, near the Barron River. This frog is very rare and is considered critically endangered, which means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
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Meet the Kuranda Tree Frog
The Kuranda tree frog is a small to medium-sized frog. Adult male frogs are about 3.5 to 4.5 centimeters long. That's about the size of a large paperclip! Female frogs are a bit bigger, growing to about 5.7 to 6.9 centimeters long.
What Does It Look Like?
These frogs can have different colors. They might be brown, tan, or gray. Sometimes they have a mix of these colors. They also have darker brown or green marks on their skin. This helps them blend in with their surroundings, like trees and leaves.
Where Does It Live?
The Kuranda tree frog likes to live in different places depending on if it's a male or a female. Female frogs usually spend most of their time up in the trees. Male frogs prefer to stay closer to streams and other water sources. This helps them find mates and lay eggs.
Why Is the Kuranda Tree Frog in Danger?
Sadly, the Kuranda tree frog is critically endangered. This means its population is very low, and it faces many threats. Scientists are working hard to protect these unique frogs.
Losing Its Home
One big problem for the Kuranda tree frog is habitat loss. Its natural home is being destroyed or changed. This can happen when forests are cut down or land is developed for buildings. When their habitat is gone, the frogs have nowhere to live or find food.
A Fungal Disease
Another serious threat is a disease called chytridiomycosis. This is a fungal disease that affects frogs and other amphibians around the world. It's like a bad skin infection for frogs and can make them very sick, often leading to death.
New Animals and Competition
The Kuranda tree frog also faces challenges from invasive species. These are animals that are brought to Australia from other places. They don't naturally belong there. Some of these new animals are predators, meaning they hunt and eat the Kuranda tree frogs. Also, the Kuranda tree frog has to compete for food and space with a similar frog called the green-eyed tree frog. This competition makes it harder for the Kuranda tree frog to survive.
Images for kids
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A Kuranda tree frog on a leaf.
