Parachuting frog facts for kids

The parachuting frog (Litoria pterodactyla) is a special type of frog. It is also called the pale-eyed parachuting tree frog. This amazing frog lives on the island of New Guinea. It is a close relative of the Pinocchio frog and the montane Pinocchio frog.

What Makes it Special?

This frog gets its name because it can "parachute" through the air! When it wants to move from one tree to another, it simply jumps. It spreads out its webbed fingers and toes. This helps it to glide and steer as it falls, much like a person using a parachute.

One of the scientists who discovered the frog, Paul Oliver, described it. He said it's a big green frog with lots of webbing on its toes. These frogs live high up in the forest trees. When they jump, they spread their digits to control their fall.

Where Does it Live?

Scientists first saw the parachuting frog in 2019. They found it in the Muller mountain range in New Guinea. This area is about 515 meters (around 1,690 feet) above sea level. So far, scientists have only seen this frog once in the wild.

To learn more about the parachuting frog, scientists used a method called DNA barcoding. This helps them study the frog's genes. They compared its DNA to that of its relatives, the Pinocchio frog and the montane Pinocchio frog. This helps them understand how these frogs are related.

Its Name

The scientific name for this frog is Litoria pterodactyla. The word pterodactyla comes from Latin. It means wings on its fingers. This name perfectly describes how the frog uses its webbed digits to glide through the air.

See also

In Spanish: Litoria pterodactyla para niños