Proceratophrys melanopogon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Proceratophrys melanopogon |
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Stombus melanopogon Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 |
The Proceratophrys melanopogon is a type of frog. It belongs to the Odontophrynidae family. This frog lives only in a special area of Brazil. You can find it in the Serra do Mar mountains. This includes parts of the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states.
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What Does This Frog Look Like?
Male Proceratophrys melanopogon frogs are about 36 to 50 mm (1.4 to 2.0 in) long. Females are a bit bigger, measuring 41 to 62 mm (1.6 to 2.4 in). This is measured from their snout to their rear end.
They have a rounded snout. Their fingers do not have webs between them. The tips of their fingers are a bit swollen. Their skin on the back can be smooth. Sometimes it has small, warty bumps. The sides of their body have special lumpy warts. A clear ridge runs from above their eye all the way to their back legs. These frogs are usually some shade of brown. They also have several dark, uneven spots on their body.
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Proceratophrys melanopogon frog lives only in southeastern Brazil. You can find it in the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Some old records from Minas Gerais likely refer to a different frog, Proceratophrys mantiqueira.
These frogs live in forests. They like to hide among the fallen leaves on the ground. They lay their eggs and raise their young in small streams. They live at high places, from 800 to 1,480 metres (2,620 to 4,860 ft) above sea level.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Proceratophrys melanopogon frogs are "explosive breeders." This means many frogs gather to breed all at once. This usually happens after heavy rain. The rain creates temporary pools and small streams.
Many male frogs come together. They make loud calls to attract females. Their call is a series of short sounds. It has a frequency of about 1179 Hz. You can hear them calling from 6 PM until midnight. The baby frogs, called tadpoles, grow in slow-moving streams.
How Is This Frog Doing?
The area where Proceratophrys melanopogon lives is probably less than 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi). The forests where it lives are not greatly threatened. Things like tourism and human buildings do not seem to harm them much.
Also, parts of their habitat are in national parks. These are protected areas. This frog is quite common. Even though their numbers might be slowly going down, it's not happening very fast. Because of this, the IUCN (a group that tracks animal populations) says this frog is of "least concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
