Papallacta tree frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Papallacta tree frog |
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The Papallacta tree frog (Hyloscirtus psarolaimus) is a type of frog that lives in the trees. It belongs to the Hylidae family, which includes many tree frogs. You can find this frog in the countries of Colombia and Ecuador.
These frogs live in special places called habitats. Their favorite homes are moist montane forests, which are forests found on mountains, and near rivers. Scientists have seen them living at high altitudes, between 1950 and 2660 meters (about 6,400 to 8,700 feet) above sea level. This area is part of a mountain range called the Cordillera Oriental. Sadly, the Papallacta tree frog is considered threatened because its natural home is shrinking due to habitat loss.
What Does the Papallacta Tree Frog Look Like?
Adult male Papallacta tree frogs are about 55.0 mm (about 2.2 inches) long from their nose to their bottom. Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring around 60.2 mm (about 2.4 inches).
The skin on the frog's back is a gray-brown color. It has interesting brown and white spots. The sides of its body and the inside of its legs are white with dark brown stripes. The frog's throat and belly are gray-white with brown and gray spots. If you look closely at its eyes, you'll see that the iris (the colored part) is bronze with black patterns.
Why Is This Frog Called Papallacta?
The scientific name for this frog, Hyloscirtus psarolaimus, has a special meaning. The word psaros comes from the Greek word for "mottled," which means spotted or blotchy. The word laimos is Greek for "throat." So, the name psarolaimus describes its mottled, or spotted, throat!
