Microkayla wettsteini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Microkayla wettsteini |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Strabomantidae |
| Genus: | Microkayla |
| Species: |
M. wettsteini
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| Binomial name | |
| Microkayla wettsteini (Parker, 1932)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Microkayla wettsteini is a special kind of frog that belongs to the Strabomantidae family. It's also known by its common names, Wettstein's Andes frog and LaPlaca's Andes frog. This frog is found only in Bolivia, a country in South America. Specifically, it lives in the Unduavi Valley, which is in the La Paz Department. It was named after an Austrian zoologist, Otto von Wettstein.
What Does the Wettstein's Andes Frog Look Like?
The Wettstein's Andes frog is a fairly large frog. It can grow up to about 3.3 centimeters (1.3 inches) long from its snout to its rear end. It has a strong body and long legs. The front part of its head, called the snout, is rounded.
This frog does not have an outer eardrum (called a tympanic membrane). However, you can still see the ring-shaped bone that supports the eardrum through its skin. The tips of its fingers and toes are only a little bit swollen. Its toes do not have any webbing or fringes on the sides.
The frog's skin is slightly bumpy on its back and sides. Its belly is also bumpy. The back of the frog is usually gray or reddish-brown. It might even have some lighter spots. The belly is a creamy color and can have reddish-brown spots or patterns. On average, a female frog lays about 13 eggs, and each egg is about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide.
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Wettstein's Andes frog lives in high-up areas. You can find it in "cloud forests," which are forests often covered in clouds and mist. It also lives in humid "páramo" grasslands. These are special types of grasslands found in the Andes mountains. These frogs live at very high elevations, from about 2,900 to 3,900 meters (9,500 to 12,800 feet) above sea level.
These frogs like to hide under stones. They can be active both during the day and at night. Male frogs will even call out to attract mates at any time. Their diet mainly consists of insects.
The Wettstein's Andes frog is quite common, and scientists don't know of any big threats to its survival right now.
 | William L. Dawson |
 | W. E. B. Du Bois |
 | Harry Belafonte |
