Resplendent shrubfrog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Resplendent shrubfrog |
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The resplendent shrubfrog (scientific name: Raorchestes resplendens) is a special type of frog. It belongs to the family Rhacophoridae. This frog is found only in the high mountains of southern India, especially around the Anaimudi peak.
Scientists consider it a critically endangered species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. It has very short legs and unique bumps on its skin. This frog was first found on the Anamudi mountain (2695 meters above sea level) in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. We only know of it living in the Eravikulam National Park.
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What Does the Resplendent Shrubfrog Look Like?
Raorchestes resplendens are medium-sized frogs, even though most frogs in their group are small. Male frogs grow to be about 23 to 25 millimeters long from their nose to their rear end. Females are a bit bigger, reaching 25 to 28 millimeters.
These frogs are easy to spot because of their bright reddish-orange color. They also have many noticeable bumps, called glands, on their body. You can see these bumps behind their eyes, on the sides of their back, near their rear opening, and on their front legs and shins. They also have them on the back of their ankles and feet.
Their legs are much shorter compared to other frogs in the Raorchestes group. The eyes of the resplendent shrubfrog are a striking red color.
Where Do Resplendent Shrubfrogs Live?
At first, scientists thought this frog lived only in a small area of about three square kilometers. This area was on the Anamudi mountain peak inside the Eravikulam National Park in India.
However, researchers later found another place where they live. This new spot was about 20 kilometers away, but still within the same national park. These frogs have been seen living at heights between 1896 and 2695 meters above sea level. They mostly live in grassy areas.
How Did the Resplendent Shrubfrog Get Its Name?
The group name Raorchestes honors a scientist named C. R. Narayan Rao. He made important contributions to studying amphibians in India. The second part of the name, Orchestes, comes from an older name used for similar frogs.
The specific name resplendens is a Latin word. It means 'bright colored', 'glittering', or 'resplendent'. This name perfectly describes the frog's bright red or orange skin.
Even though Raorchestes resplendens looks very different from other frogs in its group, DNA studies show they are definitely part of the Raorchestes family. This suggests that the resplendent shrubfrog changed its appearance very quickly over time.
Resplendent Shrubfrog Behavior and Life Cycle
The resplendent shrubfrog has very short legs. Because of this, it mostly crawls instead of hopping. Most Raorchestes frogs live on plants above the ground, and some even live in trees. But the resplendent shrubfrog prefers to stay on the ground.
Female resplendent shrubfrogs lay their eggs underground. They hide them deep inside bamboo clumps, under moss-covered forest floors. Scientists found that females can have mature eggs in their bodies even after laying some. This might mean they can mate with more than one male. It also suggests they could lay eggs more than once in a single season.
The parent frogs do not take care of their eggs after laying them. Like other frogs in this group, the eggs develop directly into froglets. There is no tadpole stage that swims freely in water. The eggs hatch after about three to four weeks. When they hatch, the tiny froglets are fully able to move around. They are about 4.5 millimeters long from nose to rear end.
Images for kids
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A resplendent shrubfrog on a leaf.
