Otophryne steyermarki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Otophryne steyermarki |
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The Otophryne steyermarki is a type of frog that belongs to the Microhylidae family. It was first described by Juan A. Rivero in 1968. You can find this frog in parts of western Guyana and in the Bolívar state in eastern Venezuela. It lives in special mountain areas like Mount Ayanganna, Mount Wokomung, Chimantá Massif, Cerro Jaua, and Mount Roraima.
Where This Frog Lives and What It Does
This frog is quite common and is active during the day. It lives near slow-moving streams in high mountain areas called tepuis. These are flat-topped mountains found in South America. The frogs live at heights between 1,000 and 1,500 metres above sea level.
Male Otophryne steyermarki frogs make calls near streams. They often hide in fallen leaves, between tree trunks, or in cracks in rocks. The young frogs, called tadpoles, live at the bottom of small ponds that are next to these streams.
What Does This Frog Look Like?
The colour of Otophryne steyermarki frogs can be different between males and females. It can also vary from one frog to another.
The frog's back (which is called the dorsum) and its legs are usually black or dark grey. They have yellow spots that are not regular in shape and can be different sizes. A yellow line runs from the tip of the frog's nose, over its eyelid, and down to its groin. This line sometimes continues onto the front part of its thigh and lower leg.
The sides of the frog are usually black or dark grey, but sometimes they can be dark orange. These areas have yellow or orange spots, which are usually smaller than the spots on their back. Male frogs have more webbing between their toes than female frogs do.
Male Otophryne steyermarki frogs grow to be about 40 to 42 millimetres long from their snout to their vent (the opening at the end of their body). Female frogs are a bit larger, growing to about 42 to 48 millimetres long.
The tadpoles of this frog can grow to be at least 43 millimetres long in total. They are dark grey with small white spots. Unlike many other tadpoles, they do not have a clear mouth disc. These tadpoles have a special breathing tube called a spiracle that sticks out from the bottom of the pond, which helps them breathe underwater.
See also
In Spanish: Otophryne steyermarki para niños
