Tanti rocket frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tanti rocket frog |
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| A picture of the first Tanti rocket frog ever studied | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Dendrobatidae |
| Genus: | Hyloxalus |
| Species: |
H. whymperi
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| Binomial name | |
| Hyloxalus whymperi (Boulenger, 1882)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Hyloxalus whymperi, also known as the Tanti rocket frog, is a small frog that belongs to the Dendrobatidae family. This family includes many types of poison dart frogs, though not all of them are poisonous.
This special frog lives only in a small area of west-central Ecuador. It has only been found in two places: a farm called Tanti, where it was first discovered, and an area near San Francisco de Las Pampas in Pichincha Province. Scientists don't know much about this frog because it's so rare and hard to find.
Contents
Why is it called the Tanti Rocket Frog?
The Tanti rocket frog, Hyloxalus whymperi, is named after Edward Whymper. He was an explorer who collected the very first frog of this kind during his trip to Ecuador between 1879 and 1880.
What does the Tanti Rocket Frog look like?
Male Tanti rocket frogs are about 21 to 23 millimeters long from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom). That's about the size of a small paperclip! They have a fairly strong body. Scientists haven't found any adult female Tanti rocket frogs yet, so we don't know how big they are.
The belly of this frog is black with white spots. Its skin is smooth all over its body.
Where do Tanti Rocket Frogs live?
The Tanti rocket frog lives in very wet forests that are found in the lower parts of mountains. These are called "premontane forests."
Scientists are not sure where these frogs lay their eggs or how their babies (called tadpoles) grow up. However, it's thought that the tadpoles probably develop in streams, like many other frogs in this family.
Protecting the Tanti Rocket Frog
The Tanti rocket frog is in danger because its habitat (the place where it lives) is shrinking. This is happening because people are cutting down trees for logging and clearing land for agriculture (farming). Protecting these forests is important to help the Tanti rocket frog survive.
See also
In Spanish: Paruwrobates whymperi para niños
 | Kyle Baker |
 | Joseph Yoakum |
 | Laura Wheeler Waring |
 | Henry Ossawa Tanner |
