Rhombophryne minuta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rhombophryne minuta |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Microhylidae |
| Subfamily: | Cophylinae |
| Genus: | Rhombophryne |
| Species: |
R. minuta
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| Binomial name | |
| Rhombophryne minuta (Guibé, 1975)
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| Range as understood in 2009. At present, the species is known with certainty only from the Marojejy National Park. | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Mantipus minutus Guibé, 1975 |
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The Rhombophryne minuta is a tiny type of frog. It belongs to a group of frogs called Microhylidae. This special frog lives only in northern Madagascar, which means it's endemic there. For a while, scientists sometimes confused it with other frogs, like the Rhombophryne mangabensis. Now, we know for sure that it lives mainly in the Marojejy National Park.
What Does This Frog Look Like?
As its name minuta suggests, this frog is very small! Adult male frogs are about 16 to 17 millimeters long. That's less than an inch! Female frogs are a bit bigger, around 22 millimeters long. This measurement is taken from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom).
The tympanum, which is like an eardrum for frogs, is hard to see on this species. Their skin on their back can be smooth or a little bumpy. Their colors can change a lot. Some are plain brown on their back. Others have dark patterns or yellowish spots. Their sides often have small white dots. Some frogs are mostly yellowish with a wide yellow stripe down their back. This stripe is outlined by a dark line. The belly of the frog can have clear or faint dark patterns.
Where Does This Frog Live and How Is It Protected?
The Rhombophryne minuta lives in rainforests. You can find them in forests both in lowlands and high up in the mountains. They live at heights of about 1570 meters above sea level. These frogs are fossorial, which means they like to burrow and live underground. They also spend time on the ground, so they are terrestrial.
The forests where these frogs live are facing some challenges. People sometimes clear parts of the forest for farming. Trees are cut down for wood or to make charcoal. Also, new types of plants, like eucalyptus, can spread and take over. Animals like livestock grazing can also harm the forest. Human towns are also growing, which means less forest for the frogs. Even in the Marojejy National Park, where these frogs are protected, some trees are illegally cut down. Protecting these forests helps keep the Rhombophryne minuta safe.
 | Aaron Henry |
 | T. R. M. Howard |
 | Jesse Jackson |
