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Nyctimystes facts for kids

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Nyctimystes montanus holotype
Like this mountain big-eyed tree frog, many frogs in the Nyctimystes group have more webbing on their back feet than on their front feet.

Nyctimystes (say: Nick-tee-MISS-tees) is a group, or genus, of tree frogs. They belong to the family Pelodryadidae. Most of these frogs live in Papua New Guinea. Some are also found on the Moluccas islands.

Scientists have different ideas about Nyctimystes. Some think these frogs should be part of another frog group called Litoria. Others believe Nyctimystes should stay as its own separate group.

What Makes Nyctimystes Frogs Special?

Unique Eyelids and Eyes

All frogs in the Nyctimystes group have special marks on their lower eyelids. These can be lines, veins, or dots. Scientists think these marks help the frog hide better. This makes it harder for bigger animals to see and eat them.

You can tell Nyctimystes frogs apart from Litoria frogs by looking at their eyes. Nyctimystes frogs have pupils that are vertical, meaning they go up and down. Litoria frogs, however, have pupils that are horizontal, going side to side.

Where They Live

These frogs like to live in warm, wet places. You can find them in tropical or subtropical rainforests. They usually live on mountains.

Physical Features

All Nyctimystes frogs have webbed feet. This helps them swim and move around in water. They also have large discs on their toes. These sticky pads help them climb trees and other surfaces easily.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Nyctimystes frogs lay large eggs. Scientists have often seen them laying their eggs on objects underwater. They usually choose fast-flowing creeks and streams. This suggests that all Nyctimystes frogs might lay their eggs this way.

The tadpoles of these frogs are well-suited for fast water. They have large, sucker-like mouths. This helps them cling to rocks and other surfaces so they don't get washed away. Their bodies are streamlined, which means they are smooth and shaped to move easily through water. They also have large, strong tails to help them swim.

History of Nyctimystes Frogs

Scientists believe that most Nyctimystes frogs became separate species a long time ago. This happened during the Miocene era. This period was about 10 to 22 million years ago.

Meaning of the Name

The name Nyctimystes comes from the Greek words nycktos and myst. Nycktos means "night," and myst means "mist." Put together, the name refers to "mysteries of the night."

Species of Nyctimystes

Many of these frog species are rare in the wild. Scientists do not know much about most of them. Sometimes, scientists publish new research that suggests a frog species should be moved from Nyctimystes to Litoria or Ranoidea. Because of this, the list below might change over time.

  • Barker, J.; Grigg, G.C.; Tyler, M.J. (1995). A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Nyctimystes para niños

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