Oreophryne biroi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oreophryne biroi |
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Oreophryne biroi is a type of frog that belongs to the Microhylidae family. It is also known as the New Guinea cross frog. This frog is special because it is endemic to New Guinea, meaning it is found only there and nowhere else in the world.
You can find Oreophryne biroi along the northern coast of New Guinea. This area stretches from Madang Province in Papua New Guinea all the way to the Cyclops Mountains in Papua province, which is part of Western New Guinea in Indonesia. The scientific name biroi was given to honor Lajos Bíró, a Hungarian scientist who studied animals and cultures. He was the one who first collected this specific frog.
What Does It Look Like?
These frogs are quite small. Adult male Oreophryne biroi frogs are about 22–24 mm (0.87–0.94 in) long from their snout to their rear. Female frogs are a bit larger, measuring around 27–29 mm (1.06–1.14 in).
Their head is a little narrower than their body. They have a clear, rounded ridge on their snout called a canthus rostralis. The eardrum, or tympanum, is small. Their fingers and toes have wide, flat tips, and they have some webbing between their toes.
The frog's back, called the dorsum, is a light brown color, like a young deer. The area from the top of its snout to between its eyes is noticeably lighter. Sometimes, you might see a thin stripe running down the middle of its back. The hidden parts of its thighs are orange. Its belly is pale with shiny white spots. The frog's iris, which is the colored part of its eye, is a beautiful red-gold color.
Where It Lives and How It Grows
Oreophryne biroi frogs live in lowland rainforests. They can also be found in forests that have been changed by humans. These frogs live at elevations up to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level.
Unlike many other frogs, Oreophryne biroi does not have a tadpole stage that swims freely in water. Instead, their development is "direct." This means the eggs hatch directly into tiny froglets that look like miniature adults.
This frog is not very common. Scientists are not sure what the main threats to its survival are. It is thought that some of these frogs live inside the Cyclops Mountains Nature Reserve, which helps protect their habitat.
