Forest toadlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Metacrinia nichollsi |
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The Metacrinia is a type of frog that belongs to the Myobatrachidae family. There is only one known species in this group, called Metacrinia nichollsi. People often call it the forest toadlet or Nicholls toadlet. This special frog lives only in Southwest Australia, found in an area between Dunsborough and Albany.
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What Does the Nicholls Toadlet Look Like?
The Metacrinia nichollsi is a small, squat frog. It has short legs and can grow up to about 25 millimeters (about 1 inch) long. Its back, or dorsal side, is usually very dark brown or black. Sometimes, it might even have small pink spots.
The underside of its body, called the ventral surface, is grey, dark blue, or black. It often has white patterns that look like marble. You might also see bright yellow or orange marks. These are found at the base of its arms and on the underside of its thighs and lower belly.
The skin on its back feels bumpy and warty. Its belly skin is granular, meaning it has a rough, grainy texture. The frog's eardrum, or tympanum, can be seen on the side of its head. Unlike some frogs, its fingers and toes are not connected by webbing.
This toadlet is the only species officially described in its group, Metacrinia. Scientists have not studied this toadlet very much. However, because these toadlets look quite different from each other, there might actually be more than one species.
Nicholls Toadlet's Home and Habits
You can find the Nicholls toadlet living among fallen leaves. It also likes to hide under stones and logs. These frogs live in forests filled with Karri and Jarrah trees.
They usually breed in late summer. Most of their breeding activity happens after it rains. The male toadlets make a short "ark" sound. This sound is similar to calls made by frogs in the Pseudophryne group.
Female toadlets lay about 25 to 30 eggs. They place these eggs in damp spots on the ground. The eggs develop directly into tiny toadlets without a tadpole stage. This means they skip the larval stage that many frogs have. In 2004, experts decided that this species is of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
How to Tell It Apart From Similar Frogs
The Metacrinia toadlet can sometimes be confused with another frog called Guenther's Toadlet, or Pseudophryne guentheri. However, you can tell them apart. The Nicholls toadlet has orange markings on its belly, which Guenther's Toadlet does not have.
See also
In Spanish: Metacrinia nichollsi para niños
