Nymphargus bejaranoi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nymphargus bejaranoi |
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Centrolenella bejaranoi Cannatella, 1980 |
The Bolivian Cochran frog (Nymphargus bejaranoi) is a special kind of frog that belongs to the Centrolenidae family. These frogs are often called "glass frogs" because some of them have skin so clear you can see their insides!
This frog lives only in the eastern parts of the Bolivian Andes mountains. You can find it in the Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, La Paz, and Santa Cruz areas. The frog's scientific name, bejaranoi, was chosen to honor Gastón Bejarano. He was a Bolivian zoologist, which means he studied animals.
What Does the Bolivian Cochran Frog Look Like?
Adult male Bolivian Cochran frogs are about 2.3 to 2.4 centimeters (about 1 inch) long from their snout to their bottom. Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring around 2.6 centimeters (just over 1 inch).
Their snout, which is like their nose area, is short and rounded when you look from above. From the side, it looks flat or gently sloped. They have eyes that are a good size for their body.
The frog's tympanum (which is like its eardrum) is easy to see. However, the top part of it is hidden by a fold of skin above it. Their fingers have wide, flat tips called discs. They also have a little bit of webbing between their last two fingers. Their toes are about half-webbed and have discs that are slightly smaller than those on their fingers.
When males are ready to reproduce, their back (called the dorsum) is covered in tiny, spiky bumps called spicules. The frog's back is a dark green color. In living frogs, these spicules look off-white.
Where Do They Live and How Are They Protected?
Bolivian Cochran frogs live in wet mountain forests. This includes cloud forests and Yungas forests. They are found at high places, from about 1,600 to 2,400 meters (about 5,250 to 7,870 feet) above sea level.
These frogs are arboreal, meaning they live in trees and plants. You can usually find them in the plants close to streams and small waterfalls.
This frog used to be quite common. However, its numbers have dropped a lot. Their homes are now in danger because of farming, pollution, and new roads being built. Luckily, some of the places where they live are protected inside national parks.
The Bolivian Cochran frog is listed as "endangered" on the IUCN Red List. This means it is very rare and at high risk of disappearing forever. After being seen in 2002, it wasn't spotted again for over 18 years!
Good news came in 2020 when three of these frogs were rediscovered! This happened in Carrasco National Park during a special mission. The mission was to save reptiles and amphibians whose homes were threatened by a planned hydroelectric project. The three rediscovered frogs were taken to a special center. Here, experts hope to help them have babies through captive breeding to increase their numbers and protect the species.
