Monte Duida tree frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monte Duida tree frog |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Tepuihyla |
| Species: |
T. aecii
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| Binomial name | |
| Tepuihyla aecii Ayarzagüena, Señaris, and Gorzula, 1992
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| Synonyms | |
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Osteocephalus aecii Ayarzagüena, Señaris, and Gorzula, 1993 "1992" |
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The Monte Duida tree frog (scientific name: Tepuihyla aecii) is a special kind of frog. It belongs to the Hylidae family, which is a group of frogs often called "tree frogs."
This frog is found only in Venezuela, making it an endemic species. This means it lives naturally in just one specific place and nowhere else in the world! It is known only from Cerro Duida, a large mountain in the Amazonas state of southern Venezuela. Cerro Duida is also its type locality, which means it's the exact place where scientists first discovered and described this species.
The Monte Duida tree frog lives in the mountains on top of special flat-topped mountains called tepuis. Its natural habitat (the place where it lives) includes forests and bushes right next to rivers, streams, and wet, boggy areas called peat bogs. Luckily, this frog lives inside the Duida-Marahuaca National Park, so it is protected, and scientists don't know of any major threats to it right now.
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What is a Tepui?
A tepui is like a giant, flat-topped mountain or mesa. These unique landforms are found mostly in the Guiana Highlands of South America, especially in Venezuela. They are often very isolated, with steep sides that make it hard for animals and plants to move between the top and the ground below. This isolation means that many species, like the Monte Duida tree frog, can only be found on one specific tepui!
Frog Features
Frogs are amphibians, which means they can live both in water and on land. Tree frogs, like the Monte Duida tree frog, often have special pads on their toes. These pads help them grip onto branches and leaves, making it easy for them to climb trees and bushes. They are usually small and have smooth, moist skin.
Conservation Status
The Monte Duida tree frog is listed as "Near Threatened" (NT) by the IUCN. This means that while it's not in immediate danger, it could become threatened in the future if its habitat is disturbed. Protecting places like the Duida-Marahuaca National Park is very important for keeping this unique frog safe.
See also
In Spanish: Rana tepuyana del Duida para niños
