Rulyrana spiculata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rulyrana spiculata |
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Centrolenella spiculata Duellman, 1976 |
The Rulyrana spiculata is a type of frog that belongs to the Centrolenidae family, also known as glass frogs. This special frog lives only in certain parts of the Andes mountains. You can find it on the eastern slopes of the Andes in central and southern Peru and northern Bolivia. Because it lives only in this specific area, it is called an endemic species. People sometimes call it the Cuzco Cochran frog.
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About the Spiny Glass Frog
What Does This Frog Look Like?
Adult male Rulyrana spiculata frogs are about 21 to 23 millimeters long. That's about the length of two small paper clips! Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring 24 to 28 millimeters. This measurement is taken from their nose to their rear end.
Their snout, which is like their nose area, is rounded. Their hands and feet have some webbing, which helps them move around. Both their fingers and toes have special sticky pads, called discs, at the tips. The ones on their fingers are quite large.
The back of the frog, called the dorsum, is a dark green color. Their belly, or venter, is a pretty aquamarine blue-green. The tips of their fingers and toes are yellowish-green, and the edge of their upper lip is greenish-white. The colored part of their eye, called the iris, is a dull bronze color with tiny black lines that look like a net.
Why Is It Called "Spiculata"?
Even though the skin on their back feels smooth, it has many tiny, white bumps. These tiny bumps are called spicules. The word "spiculata" in the frog's scientific name comes from these spicules!
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Rulyrana spiculata frog lives in tropical forests on mountains. These can be forests that have never been cut down (primary forests) or forests that are growing back (secondary forests). They live at heights of about 1,200 to 1,700 meters above sea level. That's higher than many tall buildings!
These frogs usually stay close to streams. At night, the male frogs make calls right next to small streams. This is how they find mates.
Life Cycle of the Spiny Glass Frog
The female frogs lay their eggs on leaves that hang over the water. When the tiny tadpoles hatch from the eggs, they drop into the stream below. The stream then becomes their home as they grow.
Protecting the Spiny Glass Frog
Sadly, the Rulyrana spiculata is facing threats in its home. Its habitat (the place where it lives) is shrinking. This is happening because people are using more land for farming and building new homes and towns. It's important to protect these forests so that these unique frogs can continue to thrive.
