South American lime treefrog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South American lime treefrog |
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Sphaenorhynchus platycephalus, also known as the South American lime treefrog or Lutz's lime treefrog, is a type of frog. It belongs to the Hylidae family, which includes many treefrogs. This frog is special because it is endemic to south-eastern Brazil. This means it is only found naturally in that part of the world. You can find it in the `Serra do Mar` and `Serra da Mantiqueira` mountain ranges. These areas are located in the Brazilian states of `Rio de Janeiro`, `São Paulo`, and `Minas Gerais`. Some scientists think that the frogs living in the Serra da Mantiqueira mountains might actually be a very similar, but different, species called Sphaenorhynchus canga.
How the South American Lime Treefrog Got Its Name
This frog was first described by a scientist named `Franz Werner` in 1894. He studied a frog specimen that was simply labeled "S. Amerika" (South America). Years later, in 1981, another scientist, John D. Lynch, thought the original specimen was lost. He then chose a new "neotype" specimen to represent the species. However, it turned out that this new specimen was not a treefrog at all! It was a different kind of frog from the `Centrolenidae` family. This frog was later given its own name, Centrolenella savagei, which is now known as a `synonym` of Ikakogi tayrona.
What Does the South American Lime Treefrog Look Like?
The very first frog specimen described was a female. It was about 33 mm (1.3 in) long from its snout (nose) to its vent (tail end). This frog has a strong body and a rounded snout. Its fingers are about one-third webbed, and its toes are about four-fifths webbed. This makes it look different from other Sphaenorhynchus species.
Adult male frogs are a bit smaller, measuring between 29–32 mm (1.1–1.3 in) from snout to vent. Their snouts can look pointed or slightly oval when viewed from above. From the side, their snouts look sharp. Both their fingers and toes have special discs at the tips, which help them grip surfaces. Their fingers and toes also have a moderate amount of webbing.
The `dorsum` (back) of the frog is green. Sometimes, it might have black spots or a mottled pattern. It also has yellow stripes on its sides, with black lines just below them. The `ventrum` (belly) is usually green or yellowish-green. Male frogs have a single `vocal sac`, which they use to make calls.
Where Do They Live and How Are They Protected?
The South American lime treefrog likes to live on plants. You can often find them above large ponds or lakes, or at the edge of forests. They need relatively deep, permanent ponds and lakes for `reproduction`. This is where they lay their eggs and where their young grow.
Sadly, these frogs face some threats. Their breeding places are sometimes drained to control mosquitoes. Also, insecticides (chemicals that kill insects) are used to get rid of mosquitoes. These practices can harm the frogs and their habitat. Even in protected areas, these activities can happen, which makes it harder for the frogs to survive.
