Spotted leaping frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted leaping frog |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Ranixalidae |
| Genus: | Walkerana |
| Species: |
W. diplosticta
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| Binomial name | |
| Walkerana diplosticta (Günther, 1876)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Walkerana diplosticta, also known as the spotted leaping frog, is a special type of frog. People also call it the Malabar Indian frog or Günther's frog. This frog belongs to the Ranixalidae family. It lives only in a specific area of India, in a mountain range called the Western Ghats. You can find it mainly in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. One place where it is definitely found is the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, which is a protected park.
Contents
What Does the Spotted Leaping Frog Look Like?
The Walkerana diplosticta is a fairly small frog. It usually grows to be about 35 mm (1.4 in) long from its snout to its bottom. Some adult males are about 24 and 28 mm (0.9 and 1.1 in) long, and adult females are about 23 and 26 mm (0.9 and 1.0 in) long.
Key Features of This Frog
This frog has a clear ridge between its eyes and snout, called the canthus rostralis. Its eardrum, or tympanum, is easy to see and quite large. The tips of its fingers and toes have special discs. Its toes are also partly webbed, which helps it move.
Colors and Patterns
The frog's back, or dorsum, can be grey-pink or reddish-brown. Its snout is lighter in color and has a dark bar between its eyes. A brown stripe runs from its snout all the way to its shoulder. You might also see brown spots on its groin area. The frog's belly is light brown with darker spots. Its legs have cross-bars, like stripes. The skin on its back is smooth to the touch.
Where Does the Spotted Leaping Frog Live?
The Walkerana diplosticta lives in the Western Ghats of southern India. This area is known for its rich variety of plants and animals. The frog's home is south of a place called the Palghat Gap.
Protecting Its Home
Scientists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) looked at this frog in 2022. They decided to list it as "near-threatened." This means the frog is not in immediate danger of disappearing, but it could be if its habitat continues to be harmed. Its home is slowly getting worse because of human activities.
Threats to the Frog's Habitat
One big problem is that many people visit the area for religious trips every year. These visitors can disturb the frog's home. Pollution is another issue that harms the environment where these frogs live.
Scientists are also worried about climate change. The frog lives in high places, which might make it hard for them to move to cooler areas if temperatures rise.
A Fungal Threat
There's also a fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis that could be a danger. This fungus causes a disease in frogs called chytridiomycosis. This disease can be very harmful to frog populations around the world.
 | Kyle Baker |
 | Joseph Yoakum |
 | Laura Wheeler Waring |
 | Henry Ossawa Tanner |
