Synapturanus danta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Synapturanus danta |
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The Synapturanus danta is a type of frog. It belongs to the Microhylidae family. Scientists officially described this frog in 2022. It has a special nose that looks like a tapir's nose. Because of this, people often call it the tapir frog.
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Discovering the Tapir Frog
Scientists first described the Synapturanus danta in 2022. A researcher named Germán Chávez from Peru helped discover it. The very first frog used to describe the species was a male. It was found in the Putumayo Province of Peru.
The name danta comes from "rana danta." This is the local Spanish name for the frog. It means "tapir frog" in English.
This frog is part of the Microhylidae family. This family has over 650 different kinds of frogs. Most of them are small. You can find these frogs all over the world.
What Does It Look Like?
The Synapturanus danta is a small frog. It measures about 17.6 to 17.9 mm long. That's less than an inch! Its nose sticks out, looking a lot like a tapir's snout. This unique feature gives it its common name, the tapir frog.
The frog's skin is usually brown. Sometimes, it has yellow or orange spots. People have noticed that its skin color looks a bit like chocolate. Some even compare it to the chocolate frogs from the Harry Potter books and movies!
Where Does It Live?
You can find the tapir frog in the area around the Putumayo River. Scientists found it in 2019. They were on an expedition to learn more about the animals in that river basin.
The first frog they found was a young male. It was very tiny. Researchers found two more frogs later. They heard a beeping sound coming from underground. The frogs were living under the roots of Clusia trees.
Special Abilities
The tapir frog is different from other "disc frogs." It has a slender body shape. Other disc frogs are bigger and use their bodies to dig deep into the ground. But the S. danta's body is perfect for the loose soil in its home. It lives in wet, swampy areas called peatlands.
This frog also has a special call. It makes a distinct beeping sound. The sound lasts for a very short time, about 0.05 to 0.06 seconds.
Scientists believe the Synapturanus danta is important for its ecosystem. It can live in very wet soil. This helps the soil and also helps water soak into the ground.
Protecting the Tapir Frog
Scientists do not know much about how many tapir frogs there are. They also don't know exactly where all of them live. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has not yet checked this frog. However, the scientists who described it think it should be listed as "data deficient." This means there isn't enough information to know if it's in danger.
The Putumayo River is special. It is the only large river in the Amazon that does not have any dams. There are no plans for dams there either. The area where the frog was found has very little deforestation. This is good news for the tapir frog's home.
Images for kids
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A tapir frog, showing its unique nose.
See also
In Spanish: Rana danta para niños
