Niceforo's marsupial frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Niceforo's marsupial frog |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hemiphractidae |
| Genus: | Gastrotheca |
| Species: |
G. nicefori
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| Binomial name | |
| Gastrotheca nicefori Gaige, 1933
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| Synonyms | |
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Gastrotheca medemi Cochran and Goin, 1970 |
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The Gastrotheca nicefori, also known as Niceforo's marsupial frog, is a special type of frog. It belongs to a group of frogs called Hemiphractidae. You can find this frog living in the Andes mountains. These mountains stretch across Colombia, northern Venezuela, and parts of Panama.
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About the Name: Niceforo's Marsupial Frog
The scientific name for this frog is Gastrotheca nicefori. The second part of its name, nicefori, is a way to honor someone special. It was named after a French priest and naturalist named Hermano Nicéforo María. A naturalist is someone who studies nature, like plants and animals.
What Does Niceforo's Marsupial Frog Look Like?
These frogs come in different sizes. Adult male frogs can grow to be about 73 millimeters long. That's almost 3 inches! Female frogs are a bit bigger, reaching up to 82 millimeters, or about 3.2 inches.
Their back, called the dorsum, is usually light brown. The sides of their body are a darker shade of brown. Sometimes, their color can get lighter during the day. Their belly, or ventrum, is light grey or a greyish-brown color.
This frog has pretty big finger and toe pads. These pads help them grip surfaces. Their fingers and toes also have a small amount of webbing between them.
Sounds and Reproduction
Male Niceforo's marsupial frogs make a unique sound. Their call sounds a lot like a chicken clucking! They use these calls to attract female frogs.
One of the most interesting things about these frogs is how they raise their young. The female frog carries her eggs in a special pouch on her back. This is why they are called "marsupial frogs," just like kangaroos carry their babies in a pouch! The baby frogs develop completely inside this pouch. When they are ready, they hatch directly as tiny frogs, not as tadpoles.
Where Niceforo's Marsupial Frog Lives
The natural habitat of Niceforo's marsupial frog includes lowland forests and montane cloud forests. Cloud forests are special forests found in mountains, often covered in mist or clouds. These frogs live at elevations from about 400 meters (1,300 feet) to 2,400 meters (7,900 feet) above sea level.
They are arboreal species, which means they live mostly in trees. You can often find them high up in the forest canopy. They can even live in cloud forests that have been slightly changed by humans.
Protecting These Frogs
Niceforo's marsupial frog is quite common in many areas. However, some local groups of these frogs can be in danger. One threat comes from pollution. This pollution can happen when chemicals are sprayed on illegal crops nearby.
The good news is that these frogs live in several protected areas. These areas help keep their homes safe across their range.
See also
In Spanish: Rana marsupial de Nicéforo para niños
 | Delilah Pierce |
 | Gordon Parks |
 | Augusta Savage |
 | Charles Ethan Porter |
