Pristimantis dorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis dorado |
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| Conservation status | |
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Pristimantis
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| Species: |
dorado
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The Pristimantis dorado is a special kind of frog. It belongs to a group of frogs called Strabomantidae. This tiny frog lives in the green forests of Colombia.
Scientists first found this frog in 2016. They heard it calling in some bushes next to a road. This was in a cool, misty place called a cloud forest. It was near a beautiful area known as Chingaza National Natural Park. The spot was very high up, about 2,650 meters (that's over 8,700 feet!) above sea level.
This frog is super small, less than 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) long. That's shorter than your thumb! What makes it really stand out is its eyes. It has shiny, metallic golden eyes with a thin brown line across them. This special eye color helps scientists tell it apart from other similar frogs.
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Where the Golden Frog Lives
This little frog makes its home in the amazing cloud forests of Colombia. Cloud forests are unique places. They are high up in the mountains and are often covered in mist and clouds. This makes them very damp and full of life.
The forests where the Pristimantis dorado lives are like a giant, natural greenhouse. They have lots of different plants, trees, and other animals. These forests are important for many species, including this special golden-eyed frog.
What Makes This Frog Special
The Pristimantis dorado is known for a few cool things:
- Tiny Size: It's one of the smaller frogs you might find. Being less than 2 cm long means it can hide easily among leaves and plants.
- Golden Eyes: Its metallic golden eyes with a brown streak are its most famous feature. Imagine seeing those glowing eyes in the forest!
- Unique Calls: Like many frogs, the Pristimantis dorado uses calls to communicate. This is how scientists first found it. Male frogs often call to attract females.
Protecting the Golden Frog
The Pristimantis dorado is listed as an endangered species. This means it faces a high risk of disappearing from the wild. Protecting its cloud forest home is very important. When we protect these forests, we help not only this frog but also many other plants and animals that live there.
Scientists continue to study these frogs to learn more about them. The more we know, the better we can protect them and their special habitats.
See also
- Amphibians of Colombia
- Cloud forest
