Plectrohyla pokomchi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plectrohyla pokomchi |
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Plectrohyla pokomchi is a type of frog that belongs to the Hylidae family, also known as tree frogs. This special frog lives only in central and eastern Guatemala, a country in Central America. You can find it in mountain areas like the Sierra de Xucaneb and Sierra de las Minas. It lives high up, between 1,400 and 1,900 meters (about 4,600 to 6,200 feet) above sea level.
The frog's name, pokomchi, is a tribute to the Poqomchi' people. They are an Indigenous group who live in the highlands of Guatemala. Another common name for this frog is the Rio Sananja spikethumb frog.
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About the Rio Sananja Spikethumb Frog
What the Adults Look Like
Male Plectrohyla pokomchi frogs can grow up to 55 millimeters (about 2.2 inches) long. Females are a bit smaller. The only female frog studied was 49 millimeters (about 1.9 inches) long. These frogs have a strong, sturdy body. Their head is a little wider than their body.
They have a clear fold of skin above their eardrum. This is called the supra-tympanic fold. Their eardrum, or tympanum, is hard to see. Their fingers do not have webbing between them. However, their toes are about three-quarters webbed, which helps them swim.
Skin and Colors
The skin on their back, called the dorsum, feels rough. It has small, round bumps called tubercles. These bumps are more noticeable on the back part of their body and on their thighs. The frogs are a bright green color. The bumps on their skin can be a darker green or gray.
Their sides and the back of their thighs have gray or brown spots. Their belly is a dull white color, with a lot of pale gray mixed in. The webbing on their feet is red or reddish-purple. Their eyes have a bronze color with black lines that look like a net. This part of the eye is called the iris.
Tadpoles of the Spikethumb Frog
The young frogs, called tadpoles, can grow up to 69 millimeters (about 2.7 inches) long. They have a body that is shaped like an oval. It is also a little flat from top to bottom. Their tail is strong and has fins that are not very wide.
Where They Live and How They Are Protected
Plectrohyla pokomchi frogs live in cloud forests. These are forests that are often covered in clouds or mist. They usually live near mountain streams that have waterfalls. The tadpoles grow and develop in these streams.
Conservation Status
This frog species is not very common. There is proof that its numbers have dropped a lot in some places. It might even have disappeared completely from some areas. One reason for this decline could be a disease called chytridiomycosis. This is a serious fungal disease that affects amphibians like frogs.
Another big threat to these frogs is habitat loss. This means that the places where they live are being destroyed. Because of these dangers, the Plectrohyla pokomchi is considered an "endangered" species. This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever.
See also
In Spanish: Plectrohyla pokomchi para niños
