Sri Lanka short-horned shrub frog facts for kids

The Sri Lanka short-horned shrub frog (scientific name: Pseudophilautus singu) is a special kind of frog. It belongs to the family called Rhacophoridae. This frog lives only in southwestern Sri Lanka, which means it is endemic there.

You can find this frog in a few specific places. These include the Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya, Kitulgala, and Kottawa Forest Reserves. It also lives in the famous Sinharaja World Heritage Site.

Its scientific name, singu, comes from the Sinhalese language. "Singu" means "horn." This name was chosen because the frog has small, horn-like bumps on its upper eyelids.

Quick facts for kids Sri Lanka short-horned shrub frog
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Rhacophoridae
Genus:	Pseudophilautus
Species:	P. singu
Binomial name
Pseudophilautus singu (Meegaskumbura, Manamendra-Arachchi, and Pethiyagoda, 2009)
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Synonyms
Philautus singu Meegaskumbura, Manamendra-Arachchi, and Pethiyagoda, 2009

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What Does It Look Like?

This frog is quite small. Adult male frogs are about 16.1–16.6 mm (0.63–0.65 in) long from their snout to their bottom. We don't have information about the size of female frogs yet.

Special Features

One cool thing about this frog is its upper eyelids. They have a noticeable bump, almost like a tiny horn! Its snout, or nose area, looks a bit pointed from above. From the side, it looks more rounded.

The frog has clear, oval-shaped eardrums, called a tympanum. There's also a fold of skin above its eardrum.

Hands and Feet

The tips of its fingers have special discs. These discs have grooves around them, which help the frog grip surfaces. Its fingers do not have webbing or extra skin flaps.

The toes on its feet are webbed. They also have discs with grooves, just like its fingers.

Skin and Color

The frog's skin has small bumps, called tubercles. These are found on its head, back, and sides. The skin on its throat, chest, belly, and the underside of its thighs feels bumpy, like tiny grains.

The frog's body is mostly brown on its back and sides. The area between its eyes is dark brown. You might see a W-shaped mark on the middle of its back.

The area around its eardrum is blackish-brown. The top half of the eardrum is dark brown, while the bottom half is a pale yellowish-light brown. The lower sides of its body are yellow with some brown spots. Its legs have three dark-brown stripes. The underside of the frog is dark brown with light yellow patches.

Where It Lives and How It Survives

The Sri Lanka short-horned shrub frog lives in rainforests. These forests can be found in low areas or slightly higher up, from 60–513 m (197–1,683 ft) above sea level.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

Male frogs are often seen sitting on plants. They usually perch about 0.5–1.5 m (1 ft 8 in – 4 ft 11 in) above the ground.

These frogs have a unique way of laying eggs. The female frog lays her eggs in a small dip in the soil. After laying them, she covers the eggs with soil. The baby frogs develop directly inside the eggs. This means they don't have a free-swimming tadpole stage like many other frogs. They hatch as tiny froglets!

Conservation Status

Even though this frog has a scattered distribution, it is quite common in the places where it is found. However, in the Kanneliya area, only a few have been seen. This frog really needs forests to survive.

The forest reserves where these frogs live are facing some dangers. People sometimes try to expand tea farms into these areas. This can lead to the use of chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. These chemicals can be harmful to the frogs and their environment. Protecting these forests is very important for the future of the Sri Lanka short-horned shrub frog.