Robust giant frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robust giant frog |
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The robust giant frog (also called the Cameroon slippery frog) is a type of frog. Its scientific name is Conraua robusta. You can find this frog in western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. It belongs to a family of frogs called Conrauidae. This frog is related to the famous goliath frog, which is the biggest frog in the world!
What Does It Look Like?
These frogs have a long, strong body. Male robust giant frogs can grow up to 140 mm (5.5 in) long. This measurement is from their nose to their bottom (called snout–vent length). Female frogs are a bit smaller, growing up to 122 mm (4.8 in).
Their head is wide and flat, and their snout (nose area) is short and round. The frog's back, also known as its dorsum, is covered in many small, round bumps that look like warts. Their legs are very strong and have many parallel lines on them. The tips of their toes have large, oval-shaped pads.
The color of their back can be different shades. It might be light brown, olive green, or dark brown. They often have irregular black patterns. As they get older, their back can turn almost completely black. The underside of the frog (its belly or venter) is usually white or black. This darker color is often seen on their throat, chest, and near their knees.
Where Does It Live?
The robust giant frog lives in and around cold, fast-moving streams. You can find them in both grassy areas and forests. They live at high places, from 750 m (2,460 ft) to 1,400 m (4,600 ft) above sea level. They don't need trees to live, so you might even find them in some towns!
These frogs are mostly nocturnal, which means they are active at night. Their babies, called tadpoles, live in very fast, sometimes even rushing, water. The robust giant frog shares its home with other frog species, like C. crassipes and C. goliath. However, the robust giant frog prefers water that is colder and moves faster than what the goliath frog likes.
Protecting the Robust Giant Frog
The robust giant frog is not a very common species. Its numbers are likely going down because of things like habitat loss. This means their natural homes are being destroyed or damaged. Farming, cutting down trees (logging), and new human settlements are causing these problems. For example, dirt and mud from these activities can get into the streams where the frogs live, which is bad for them.
People also catch these frogs for food. However, this is usually done in a way that is "sustainable." This means people don't catch too many, so there are still enough frogs left for the future. Work is ongoing to make sure this continues. You can find this species living safely in the Cross River National Park in Nigeria.
