Ryukyu Kajika Frog
Quick facts for kids Ryukyu Kajika Frog |
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Ixalus japonicus Hallowell, 1861 |
The Ryukyu Kajika frog (Buergeria japonica) is a fascinating type of frog. It is also known as the Japanese Buerger's frog or Japanese stream treefrog. This small amphibian belongs to the Rhacophoridae family. You can find it living in the beautiful Ryukyu Islands of Japan. In 2020, scientists identified some populations from northern Taiwan and the Yaeyama Islands as a separate species, now called Buergeria choui.
Where the Ryukyu Kajika Frog Lives
The Ryukyu Kajika frog is a common sight in its home region. It lives in many different kinds of watery places. These include rivers and streams that sometimes dry up. You can also find it in freshwater marshes, which are wet, grassy areas. Some frogs live near natural springs and warm geothermal wetlands. They even make their homes in places changed by humans, like irrigated farmland and canals and ditches. Sadly, in some areas, these frogs are facing threats. Their homes are disappearing due to habitat loss, which means their natural living spaces are being destroyed.
What Does the Ryukyu Kajika Frog Look Like?
The Ryukyu Kajika frog is a small to medium-sized frog. Adult males are usually about 3 cm (1.2 in) long. This measurement is taken from their snout (nose) to their vent (the opening near their tailbone). This makes them quite tiny, often fitting in the palm of your hand!
The Ryukyu Kajika Frog's Reproduction
These frogs usually lay their eggs in slow-moving water. They often choose small streams and ditches for their breeding grounds. However, some groups of these frogs in Taiwan have a unique breeding habit. They lay their eggs in geothermal hot springs! These hot springs are naturally heated by the Earth.
Breeding in hot springs has some special benefits. The frogs can breed all year round because the water stays warm. The high temperatures also help the tadpoles grow faster. Plus, there might be fewer other animals competing for food and space in these unusual hot spring habitats. Tadpoles of the Ryukyu Kajika frog are quite tough. They can handle water temperatures up to about 42 °C (108 °F). But most tadpoles prefer to stay in parts of the pools where the temperature is cooler, usually below 37 °C (99 °F).
