Phrynobatrachus graueri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phrynobatrachus graueri |
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The Rugege river frog or Grauer's puddle frog (scientific name: Phrynobatrachus graueri) is a small type of frog. It belongs to the Phrynobatrachidae family. You can find this frog in parts of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and western Kenya.
This frog was named after Rudolf Grauer. He was an Austrian explorer and zoologist. He was the first person to collect a sample of this frog. The scientific name graueri is a way to honor him.
What Does It Look Like?
These frogs are quite small. Adult male frogs usually grow to about 2.3 centimeters (0.9 inches) long. Female frogs are a bit bigger, reaching about 2.8 centimeters (1.1 inches) in body length.
Their snout, which is their nose area, is short. They have a clear eardrum, called a tympanum. It is about half the size of their eye. Their fingers and toes have special pads, or discs, at the ends. Their toes also have a little bit of webbing between them.
The back of the frog, called the dorsum, is dark olive green. There is often a darker stripe that runs from their nose to their front leg. Some frogs might have a thin or wide stripe down the middle of their back. They also have two light lines near their rear end. Male frogs have a black throat. The base of their back legs is often yellow.
Where It Lives and How We Protect It
The Rugege river frog lives in montane forests. These are forests found in mountainous areas. It likes to live inside these forests or along their edges. You can usually find it at high places, more than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level. It often lives near swampy parts of the forest.
These frogs lay their eggs in water. They usually choose swampy areas for their eggs. If you find this frog, it is often a common species in that area.
However, these frogs are facing some challenges. Their homes are being lost because of human activities. People are using the land for farming and raising animals. They are also cutting down trees for wood and building new towns.
Luckily, this frog is protected in some places. It lives in Kibale National Park and Bwindi National Park in Uganda. It is also found in Kakamega National Reserve in Kenya. These parks help keep their habitat safe.
