Sunset frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sunset frog |
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The sunset frog (scientific name: Spicospina flammocaerulea) is a special type of frog. It belongs to a group of frogs called Spicospina. This group only has one species: the sunset frog! These frogs live on the ground. They are part of the Myobatrachidae family.
Scientists first found the sunset frog in 1994. It lives only in the southwest part of Western Australia. So far, they have been found in just 27 places. All these places are near a town called Walpole.
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What Does the Sunset Frog Look Like?
The sunset frog is a small frog. Female frogs are about 31 to 36 millimeters long. Males are a bit smaller, around 29.5 to 34.8 millimeters long. This frog looks very different from other Australian frogs.
Its back is shiny dark-purple, black, or very dark grey. It has bright orange markings on its body. These orange spots are found under its tail, along its sides, and on its hands and feet. These colors look like a beautiful sunset! Its throat, chest, and the bottom of its hands and feet are also orange.
The frog's back feels bumpy. It has many raised glands. There is a large gland called a parotoid gland behind each eye. The belly is smooth and dark. It has bright light blue spots. The sunset frog's fingers and toes do not have webbing. They also do not have pads.
Where Sunset Frogs Live and What They Do
Sunset frogs live in very specific places. They are only found in peat swamps that are always wet. These swamps are in areas that get a lot of rain. The ground in these places stays very moist. Water seeps into the swamps, keeping them wet even during dry seasons.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Male sunset frogs call out between October and December. They call from shallow pools or wet areas along creeks. Their call sounds like a quick "dd-duk-duk."
Female frogs lay less than 200 eggs. They lay each egg by itself. The eggs are often placed just under the water's surface. They are held up by mats of algae.
Helping the Sunset Frog
The sunset frog is an endangered species. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever. People are working to protect these special frogs.
On December 19, 2011, a special effort was made. The DEC (a government department) and Perth Zoo worked together. They released 31 sunset frogs that were raised in captivity. They also released 251 tadpoles. These frogs and tadpoles were set free on private land near Mt Frankland. This helped to spread the frogs to new areas. It gives them more places to live and grow.
