Osteocephalus deridens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Osteocephalus deridens |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
The Osteocephalus deridens is a type of frog that belongs to the Hylidae family, also known as the tree frog family. You can find this special frog in the eastern parts of Ecuador, near the Napo and Pastaza River areas. It also lives in northern Peru, in the Loreto Region.
Its scientific name, deridens, comes from a Latin word meaning "to make fun of someone." This name was chosen because the male frogs call out from high up in the trees. Their calls sound like they are laughing at people trying to catch them! Because of this, it's also known by a fun common name: the funny slender-legged treefrog.
What Does This Frog Look Like?
Adult male funny slender-legged treefrogs are about 29 to 35 millimeters (1.1 to 1.4 inches) long. The females are a bit bigger, measuring around 44 to 51 millimeters (1.7 to 2.0 inches) from their snout to their rear end.
Their snout (nose area) looks rounded from the side and flat when you look down from above. They have a clear eardrum, called a tympanum, but it's partly covered by a fold of skin above it. Their fingers and toes have some webbing between them, which helps them climb.
The top part of their body, called the dorsum, is a dark tan color. It can have different patterns, like dark tan blotches, light brown spots, or even a light brown triangle shape pointing backward. Their legs have dark stripes across them. The underside of their body is a creamy white color.
Where Does This Frog Live and Is It Safe?
The funny slender-legged treefrog lives in the Napo moist forests. These forests are found at elevations between 200 and 600 meters (about 650 to 2,000 feet) above sea level. These frogs prefer to live high up in the canopy (the very top layer) of untouched forests.
Male frogs usually call from more than 5 meters (16 feet) above the ground. The baby frogs, called tadpoles, grow up in plants called bromeliads. These bromeliads are often found very high up in the trees, sometimes more than 15 meters (nearly 50 feet) above the ground!
It's quite hard to spot these frogs because they live so high up in the trees. They don't do well when their homes are disturbed by humans. Their biggest threat is habitat loss, which happens when forests are cut down for farming or logging. Luckily, this species can be found in the Yasuni National Park in Ecuador, which helps protect some of its habitat.
