Myersiohyla chamaeleo facts for kids

The Myersiohyla chamaeleo is a special type of frog. It belongs to the Hylidae family, which includes many tree frogs. This frog is found only in one specific area: Amazonas, Venezuela.

Scientists first discovered this frog on a unique mountain called Tepui Cerro de la Neblina. They found it living at high altitudes, between 1,450 and 2,100 meters (about 4,757 to 6,890 feet) above sea level. This makes it a high-altitude frog!

Where This Frog Lives

The Myersiohyla chamaeleo is endemic to a certain part of Venezuela. This means it lives naturally only in that one place and nowhere else in the world. Its home is the Amazonas region, which is known for its incredible rainforests and unique mountains.

The Special Tepui Mountains

The Cerro de la Neblina is a type of mountain called a "tepui." Tepuis are like giant, flat-topped mountains with very steep sides. They are often called "table mountains" because of their shape. These mountains are very old and have been isolated for a long time. This isolation means that many plants and animals found on tepuis, like the Myersiohyla chamaeleo, are found nowhere else on Earth.

The high altitude of the tepuis also creates a unique environment. It can be cooler and cloudier than the surrounding lowlands. This special climate and isolation have helped new species, like this frog, evolve over millions of years.

Discovering New Species

Scientists officially described the Myersiohyla chamaeleo in 2013. This means it was formally recognized as a new species to science in that year. Discovering new species helps us understand the amazing variety of life on our planet. It also shows us how important it is to protect these unique places, like the Venezuelan Amazon and its tepuis.

See also

• In Spanish: Myersiohyla chamaeleo para niños