Oriental robber frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oriental robber frog |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 |
|
| Individual on the forest floor (above), two on a hand showings the species' minute size (below) | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Sminthillus limbatus ssp. orientalis Barbour & Shreve, 1937 |
The Oriental robber frog, also known as the Baracoa dwarf frog, is a tiny species of frog. Its scientific name is Eleutherodactylus orientalis. This small frog belongs to the family Eleutherodactylidae, which includes many types of "rain frogs" or "robber frogs."
This special frog lives only in one small area around El Yunque mountain, near Baracoa in eastern Cuba. When an animal or plant lives only in one specific place, it is called endemic. Even though you might find many of these frogs in their small home, they need a very specific kind of wet, untouched forest to survive. Because their home is so small and can be easily damaged, the Oriental robber frog is considered critically endangered. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
What Does It Look Like?
The Oriental robber frog is quite colorful, often having bright yellow markings. It is also incredibly small! Female frogs are usually about 1.33 centimeters (about half an inch) long from their snout to their rear end. Males are even tinier, measuring around 1.25 centimeters (just under half an inch).
This frog is part of a group of closely related frogs found in Cuba. This group includes five other known species: E. cubanus, E. etheridgei, E. iberia, E. jaumei, and E. limbatus. There might even be more species in this group that scientists haven't officially named yet!
Many of these tiny Cuban frogs are brightly colored. Their bright colors might be a warning sign to predators, telling them to stay away. For example, both the E. iberia and E. orientalis frogs have special chemicals called alkaloid toxins in their skin. These toxins are usually mild and help protect the frogs from animals that might try to eat them.
Images for kids
-
A relative comparison of the world's smallest frogs
See also
In Spanish: Eleutherodactylus orientalis para niños
