Southern pastel frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern pastel frog |
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The southern pastel frog or Hispaniola robber frog (Eleutherodactylus leoncei) is a small frog. It belongs to the Eleutherodactylidae family. This frog lives only on the island of Hispaniola. You can find it in the Massif de la Selle mountains. This area is in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
These frogs like to live in high pine forests. Male frogs make calls from the ground. Sadly, this frog is in danger. Its home is being lost because of tree cutting and farming. Even in places like Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, its home is still being harmed.
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Discovering the Southern Pastel Frog
Scientists first described E. leoncei in 1963. Two scientists, Shreve and Williams, named it. The first frog found was from Foret des Pins. This place is near Pic la Selle in Haiti. An adult female frog was collected in February 1959. This first frog is called the "holotype." It helps scientists compare other frogs to it.
Where the Southern Pastel Frog Lives
Most of these frogs were found hiding. They were under rocks and logs during the day. They live in forests with pine trees (like Pinus occidentalis). They also live in forests with hardwood trees. Sometimes, one was seen crossing a road at night.
This frog only lives in the Massif de la Selle mountains. This includes the Sierra de Bahoruco in the Dominican Republic. It lives at high elevations. These can be from about 1,182 to 2,303 meters above sea level.
Habitat and Reproduction
The southern pastel frog is a ground-dwelling animal. It lives in high pine forests. It likes shady spots on the forest floor. The males call from the ground. This frog needs its natural home to be undisturbed. It cannot live well if its environment is changed.
These frogs reproduce in a special way. They lay their eggs on the ground. The eggs hatch directly into small frogs. They do not have a tadpole stage in water.
Protecting the Southern Pastel Frog
The southern pastel frog lives in Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco. This is a national park in the Dominican Republic. But this area is not well protected. The frog's home is still being lost. It is important to manage these protected areas better. This will help save the remaining places where the frog lives.
Threats to the Frog's Home
The biggest danger to the frog is losing its home. This happens because people cut down trees. They cut trees for charcoal. Farmers also clear land for farming. This is called "slash-and-burn agriculture." Local communities do this.
This region has also had many forest fires. Some of these fires are started by people. These illegal activities happen inside the park.
Why the Frog is Endangered
Scientists believe the frog's population will drop by more than 80%. This could happen in the next ten years. This is because its home in Hispaniola is being destroyed so much. Because of this, the IUCN has listed the frog as Endangered. This means it is at high risk of becoming extinct.
Images for kids
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Adult female of Eleutherodactylus leoncei from Sierra de Bahoruco.
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Effects of wildfires visible along the road in Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco.
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Typical habitat of E. leoncei in Sierra de Bahoruco.
See also
In Spanish: Eleutherodactylus leoncei para niños
