Marbled toadlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marbled toadlet |
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| The area in which the holotype of the marbled toadlet was found |
The marbled toadlet (scientific name: Uperoleia marmorata) is a small frog that scientists know very little about. It's only known from one single frog specimen, called a holotype, which was found way back in 1841. This special frog was collected by a scientist named Gray in the Kimberley area of Western Australia.
What it Looks Like
When the marbled toadlet was first found, Gray described it as having a "black and green marbled" pattern. It also had a green triangle shape on its forehead and was a lead color underneath.
Scientists believe this toadlet probably shares other features with similar Uperoleia species. These might include:
- Red-orange patches in its groin (the area where its legs join its body) and behind its knees.
- Small bumps on its skin, called tubercles.
- Large glands behind its eyes, called parotoid glands.
- A bumpy or granular belly.
This frog is likely to be about 30 millimeters long, which is about the size of a large paperclip.
The marbled toadlet probably looks a lot like the Mjoberg's toadlet (Uperoleia mjobergi). This is because they live in similar places. It's even possible that the original marbled toadlet specimen was actually a Mjoberg's toadlet that was mistaken for a new species.
Where it Lives and How it Behaves
Because we only have one record of this species, it's hard to know much about where it lives or what it does. However, scientists think the marbled toadlet likely breeds in still water. This could be permanent ponds or temporary pools in the Kimberley region.
At one time, people thought this frog lived all across eastern New South Wales. But frogs in the Uperoleia group look very similar to each other. So, it's most likely that the marbled toadlet was confused with the smooth toadlet in those areas.
See also
In Spanish: Uperoleia marmorata para niños
