Southern Sierra Madre treefrog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern Sierra Madre treefrog |
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The Sarcohyla cembra, also known as the Southern Sierra Madre treefrog, is a type of frog that belongs to the Hylidae family. This special frog lives only in Mexico. For a long time, scientists only knew about two male frogs of this kind. One was found in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains in Oaxaca, and the other in Sierra de Yucuyacua, also in Oaxaca. These two places are about 172 kilometers (107 miles) apart.
After 1993, no one saw this frog for many years. People worried it might have disappeared forever. But good news! In 2011 and 2012, scientists found the frog again during special searches. They even found it in a new spot, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of where it was first discovered. This means the Southern Sierra Madre treefrog is still out there!
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What's in a Name?
The second part of the frog's scientific name, cembra, comes from a Latin word meaning "timber" or "wood." This name was chosen because this frog lives in forests filled with pine and oak trees. It's a perfect fit for its home!
How Scientists Classify It
At one point, scientists thought a female frog they found might be a female Sarcohyla cembra. But after looking closely, they realized it was a completely new species! They named it Sarcohyla miahuatlanensis. Even though they are different species, these two types of frogs look very much alike.
What Does It Look Like?
The first male Sarcohyla cembra ever found was about 37 millimeters (1.5 inches) long from its snout to its bottom. The second male found was a bit bigger, measuring about 40.4 millimeters (1.6 inches). These frogs have a body that is quite strong and solid.
Their skin is smooth on their back and legs. But on their belly, chin, and the underside of their thighs, the skin feels a little bumpy. Their fingers do not have any webbing, but their toes have some webbing, which helps them move in their wet environment.
When first caught, these frogs were a bright greenish-yellow color. Later, their color changed to a dull green. They have cool brown and green patterns along their sides. Their throat and chest are white, and the underside of their legs and belly are a pinkish-tan color. Their eyes have a brownish-yellow center, called an iris.
When male frogs want to attract a mate, they make a short "wrack" sound. This is often followed by a series of quiet "chuckles." Scientists also found some Tadpoles (baby frogs) in the same area where the first adult frog was found. These tadpoles were up to 51 millimeters (2 inches) long. Scientists think these tadpoles might belong to the Sarcohyla cembra species.
Where It Lives and How We Protect It
The Southern Sierra Madre treefrog lives in special forests called pine-oak forests. These forests are its natural habitat. The first frog was found at night, calling from under a piece of tree bark in a small stream. This was high up in the mountains, about 2,160 meters (7,087 feet) above sea level. The second frog was found inside a plant called a bromeliad, which was growing on a fallen oak tree. This was even higher, at about 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) above sea level.
For many years, only two of these frogs had ever been seen, one in 1969 and another in 1993. This made scientists worry. But as we learned, they were found again in 2011–2012!
However, the pine-oak forests where these frogs live are in danger. People are cutting down trees for logging and clearing land for agriculture. There's also a frog disease called chytridiomycosis that might be harming them. Protecting these forests is very important to keep the Southern Sierra Madre treefrog safe.
