Mannophryne trinitatis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mannophryne trinitatis |
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Phyllobates trinitatis Garman, 1888 "1887" |
The yellow-throated frog (also called the Trinidadian stream frog or Trinidad poison frog) is a small frog found only on the island of Trinidad in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Its scientific name is Mannophryne trinitatis. This frog is active during the day.
You can find them near rocky streams in wet mountain forests. They have colors that help them hide, and male and female frogs look a bit different. Even though it's listed as 'Least Concern' by the IUCN Red List, we don't fully know where all the frogs live. Sadly, these frogs are losing their homes. Both male and female frogs protect their territory and help take care of their young.
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About the Yellow-Throated Frog
Adult yellow-throated frogs are quite small. Their backs are dark brown, and their sides have a mottled pattern. Males and females look different, which is called being sexually dimorphic.
How Males and Females Differ
Adult male frogs have grey throats. They are about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long from their snout to their rear. Females have bright yellow throats. They are a bit larger, averaging about 2.8 centimeters (1.1 inches) long.
When male frogs call to attract females, their skin color can change. They go from a pale brown to a very dark black.
Tadpole Growth
Baby frogs, called tadpoles, start out small. They are usually around 1.4 to 1.6 centimeters long. After they grow and change into frogs, they can reach about 3.7 centimeters.
Unique Markings
The yellow-throated frog has some special markings. It has a clear, dark collar around its neck. Its back is solid brown. It also has light stripes along its sides. Dark spots can be seen on the edges of its hands and feet. There is also a pale stripe near its groin. Dark areas are found on its front arms and on the bumps of its toes.
Where Yellow-Throated Frogs Live
The yellow-throated frog lives only in certain places. You can find them in the Paria Peninsula of Northern Venezuela. They also live in the Northern and Central Ranges of Trinidad, West Indies.
Preferred Environment
These frogs can live from sea level up to very high mountains. They like to stay near rocky streams in valleys or on mountain slopes. They also enjoy undisturbed wet mountain forests.
The streams they live in are usually narrow and shallow. They have slow, clear water. These streams also have deeper pools. Frogs use these pools to lay their eggs and for their tadpoles to grow. Sometimes, frogs will move their tadpoles to other pools, like those found in plants. They do this if there are many predators nearby.
Protecting the Yellow-Throated Frog
The yellow-throated frog is currently listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List. This means it is not in immediate danger of disappearing. It is also not on the CITES Endangered Species List.
Threats to the Frogs
However, many of these frogs have lost their homes. Their habitats are damaged by pollution and cutting down trees. Farming methods that move from place to place also harm their homes. Scientists also worry that some frog groups might disappear before they can be studied. This is because we don't have enough information about their genes.
Conservation Efforts
One study from Venezuela suggested ways to help these frogs. It recommended protecting forests. It also suggested strict rules for farm chemicals. These chemicals are often used on coffee and cocoa farms near streams.
Home Range and Territoriality
Yellow-throated frogs protect their space in two main ways. First, they defend areas where they find food, water, and shelter. Second, during breeding season, they protect large areas where they mate. They keep other frogs from calling in their space. Adult female frogs defend their territory more often than males.
Female Defense Behavior
Female yellow-throated frogs show aggressive behaviors to other frogs. They use visual threats, wrestle, and chase intruders. When they show a threat, females will flash their bright yellow throats. This warns other frogs to stay away.
Male Defense Behavior
Male frogs protect their territories from predators and other males. They make special calls to do this. These calls help scare away rivals. They also help attract female frogs for mating.
What Yellow-Throated Frogs Eat
Adult yellow-throated frogs mainly eat arthropods. They also eat small insects. Some examples include Drosophila flies (like D. hydei and D. melanogaster) and Callosobruchus chinensis beetles.
In contrast, tadpoles are mostly plant-eaters. They feed on algae and fallen leaves. Both frogs and tadpoles also eat bat droppings, called guano. They also consume small creatures that live in the soil.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The way yellow-throated frogs reproduce can differ depending on where they live. For example, in Trinidad, the number of eggs a female lays varies. Frogs from the Northern Range lay 6 to 13 eggs. Those from the Tamana cave in the Central Range hills lay 12 to 26 eggs.
Mating Rituals
Adult male frogs try to attract females from a distance. They do this by making special calls. They also show off their throats and do a unique toe-tip jumping dance. As they call, their skin changes color from pale brown to jet black.
When a female hears a male's call or sees his color change, she leaves her territory. She then goes to the calling male. They then engage in amplexus, which is a mating embrace. The pair moves to a place to lay eggs, such as rock cracks or wet leaves near streams.
Parental Care
Female yellow-throated frogs lay their eggs near streams. They usually do this after it rains and the air is humid.
Male frogs then guard and care for the eggs. The eggs hatch after about 21 days. If there is a high risk of predators, males will carry their tadpoles on their backs. They carry them for long distances, usually 3 to 4 days. They carefully place the tadpoles into pools that are safe from predators. Carrying tadpoles does not seem to make the male frogs eat less. However, males cannot mate with females while they are carrying tadpoles.
Enemies of the Yellow-Throated Frog
The yellow-throated frog and its tadpoles face several dangers. A type of fish called Anablepsoides hartii often preys on them. Shrimp from the genus Macrobrachium also eat them.
The frog species can also get various internal parasites. These are called helminths. They include tapeworms, nematodes (roundworms), and acanthocephalans (spiny-headed worms).
