Gray-eyed frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gray-eyed frog |
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The Opisthothylax is a special type of frog group. It belongs to the Hyperoliidae family. This group has only one known species, which is called Opisthothylax immaculatus. People also call it the gray-eyed frog.
You can find this frog in several countries in Africa. These include southern Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the western part of the Republic of Congo. It also lives in the southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Scientists think it might also be in a small area of Angola called Cabinda and in the Central African Republic.
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What Does the Gray-Eyed Frog Look Like?
Adult male gray-eyed frogs are quite small. They measure about 30 to 33 millimeters (which is about 1.2 to 1.3 inches) from their nose to their bottom.
Their back can be reddish-brown, orange, or yellowish. Most of these frogs have two small, dark spots on the back of their head. The underside of their body and legs is a light yellow color.
The frog's eyes are interesting. The colored part of their eye, called the iris, is a light golden yellow. Their pupil, which is the dark center of the eye, is shaped like a vertical line. You cannot easily see their eardrum. Their skin feels bumpy, almost like it has warts. Their toes have wide, sticky pads that help them climb.
Male frogs have a large flap of skin under their throat. They also have a special pouch called a vocal sac. This sac helps them make sounds, but it does not stretch out much.
Where Do Gray-Eyed Frogs Live?
The gray-eyed frog lives in dense, untouched rainforests. These frogs are tree-dwelling. This means they spend most of their time high up in the trees among the leaves.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
These frogs have a unique way of laying their eggs. They build a foamy nest. This nest is attached to leaves that hang over slow-moving streams. The gray-eyed frog is the only species in the Hyperoliidae family that lays its eggs this way.
When the baby tadpoles hatch from the eggs, they simply drop down into the water below.
Protecting the Gray-Eyed Frog
The Opisthothylax immaculatus is found in many places. However, there are not many of them living in any one area. This means their population is not very dense.
One of the biggest problems for these frogs is losing their homes. When rainforests are cut down or disturbed, the frogs lose the places they need to live and reproduce.
The gray-eyed frog is found in the Korup National Park in Cameroon. It probably lives in other protected areas too. These parks help keep their natural homes safe.
