Nymphargus balionota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nymphargus balionota |
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Nymphargus balionota is a special kind of frog that belongs to the Centrolenidae family. These frogs are often called "glassfrogs" because some of them have see-through skin! This particular frog is found in the Andes mountains, in countries like Colombia and Ecuador. People sometimes call it the Mindo Cochran frog or the mottled glassfrog.
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What Does This Frog Look Like?
Adult male Nymphargus balionota frogs are quite small. They measure about 20 to 23 millimeters (which is less than an inch) from their snout to their rear end.
Their head is much wider than their body. Their snout, which is the front part of their head, looks flat or cut off.
Hands and Feet
This frog has special fingers with fringes on the sides. There is also some webbing between its outer fingers. Its toes are about three-fourths webbed, which means they have a lot of skin connecting them. The discs on its fingers are a bit bigger than the discs on its toes. These discs help the frog grip surfaces.
Colors and Patterns
The back of the frog, called the dorsum, is a pale green color. It has reddish-brown stripes and small spots. You might also see raised yellow spots on its back.
Where Does This Frog Live?
Nymphargus balionota frogs live in special places. They prefer humid lowland tropical forests and cloud forests. You can find them on plants near streams. They live at elevations from about 400 to 1,540 meters (about 1,300 to 5,000 feet) above sea level.
Life in the Trees
These frogs are arboreal, which means they spend most of their lives in trees and on other plants. They are very good at climbing and moving around in the vegetation.
How Does This Frog Reproduce?
Nymphargus balionota frogs lay their eggs on leaves. These leaves hang over streams. When the tadpoles hatch from the eggs, they drop into the water below to continue growing.
Is This Frog in Danger?
This type of frog is fairly common in Colombia. However, there have not been many recent sightings in Ecuador. Even though it was once very common there in 1975.
The Nymphargus balionota frog is considered a vulnerable species. This means it faces threats that could make its population smaller. Its biggest threat is habitat loss. This happens when its forest home is destroyed. People clear forests for farming, cutting down trees for wood, and building new homes.
See also
In Spanish: Nymphargus balionotus para niños
