Plectrohyla teuchestes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plectrohyla teuchestes |
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Hyla teuchestes (Duellman and Campbell, 1992) |
The Plectrohyla teuchestes is a special kind of frog. It belongs to the Hylidae family, which includes many tree frogs. This frog is very rare. It lives only in one country: Guatemala. This means it is endemic to Guatemala.
Scientists first found this frog in a specific place. This place is on the southern side of the Sierra de Xucaneb mountains. This area is in the Alta Verapaz Department of Guatemala. There was also one other report of this frog in Alta Verapaz. Some frogs found in Honduras were once thought to be this species. But now, they are known as a different species, Plectrohyla exquisita.
Contents
The Xucaneb Spikethumb Frog
This frog is also sometimes called the Xucaneb Spikethumb Frog. It is a small, green or brown frog. It has special thumbs that help it climb. These frogs are very good at hiding in their environment.
Where This Frog Lives
The Plectrohyla teuchestes lives in tropical, moist montane forests. These are forests found in mountains. It likes to live near streams and waterfalls. The frog usually lives at about 1,000 meters (about 3,280 feet) above sea level. This is quite high up in the mountains.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
These frogs lay their eggs in streams. The young frogs, called tadpoles, grow in the water. They need clean, flowing water to survive. The streams and waterfalls are very important for their reproduction.
Why This Frog Needs Help
The Plectrohyla teuchestes is in great danger. It is listed as Critically Endangered. This means it faces a very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
One big problem is habitat loss. The forests where it lives are being cut down or changed. This takes away the frog's home. In 2004, scientists looked for this frog but could not find any. This was even though they searched in the only known location.
Another threat is a disease called Chytridiomycosis. This is a serious fungal disease that affects amphibians. It can be very deadly for frogs. Both habitat loss and this disease make it very hard for the Plectrohyla teuchestes to survive. Protecting its forest home is very important.
See also
In Spanish: Plectrohyla teuchestes para niños
