Phrynobatrachus irangi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phrynobatrachus irangi |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Phrynobatrachidae |
| Genus: | Phrynobatrachus |
| Species: |
P. irangi
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| Binomial name | |
| Phrynobatrachus irangi Drewes and Perret, 2000
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The Phrynobatrachus irangi is a type of frog that belongs to the family called Phrynobatrachidae. It is also known as the Irangi puddle frog. This special frog lives only in Kenya, a country in Africa. We only know about it from two places: the Irangi Forest on the slopes of Mount Kenya, and Kimande near the Aberdare Range.
About the Irangi Puddle Frog
The Irangi puddle frog is quite large for its kind. Adult male frogs are about 3.6 to 4.6 centimeters (1.4 to 1.8 inches) long from their snout to their rear end. Female frogs are even bigger, measuring about 4.5 to 5.1 centimeters (1.8 to 2.0 inches). These frogs look quite sturdy and strong.
Their snout, which is their nose area, sticks out a bit but has a rounded shape. They have a visible eardrum, called a tympanum, which is oval. Their fingers and toes have slightly wider tips. Interestingly, their fingers do not have any webbing, and the webbing between their toes is very small.
The skin on their back, called the dorsum, feels smooth. However, it has tiny, white, pointed bumps spread out. They also have two thin lines of glands on their back that form an X-shape, but the lines don't quite touch. The frog's back is dark brown. Its snout is usually light orange-brown, and sometimes it has patches of this color on its shoulder, upper arm, and elbow. Their back legs are light brown with thick, dark stripes across them. The underside of the frog, called the venter, is yellowish to tan. The skin under its chin, known as the gular region, looks a bit grayish.
Where They Live and How They Are Protected
The Irangi puddle frog lives in mountain forests at high elevations. They are found between 1,900 and 2,300 meters (about 6,200 to 7,500 feet) above sea level. These frogs are diurnal, which means they are active during the day.
Male frogs have been seen making calls near small streams. They call from holes in the mud or from under tree roots and logs. The baby frogs, called tadpoles, probably grow up in these streams, though scientists are still trying to confirm this.
Sadly, the group of frogs living in Kimande might have already disappeared. This is because their home has been changed by farming. This kind of farming, where people grow food to feed themselves, is a threat to the frogs in other areas too. The Irangi puddle frog might also live in safe areas like the Mount Kenya National Park and Aberdare National Park. These parks help protect the natural homes of many animals, including these special frogs.
 | May Edward Chinn |
 | Rebecca Cole |
 | Alexa Canady |
 | Dorothy Lavinia Brown |
