Arico Water Frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arico Water Frog |
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Telmatobius zapahuirensis Veloso, Sallaberry-Ayerza, Navarro, Iturra-Constant, Valencia, Penna, and Diaz, 1982 |
The Arico water frog (scientific name: Telmatobius pefauri) is a special type of frog. It belongs to the family Telmatobiidae. This frog lives only in the very northern part of Chile.
For a while, people worried that this frog might have disappeared forever. But new studies show it is still alive! It lives in a few places in the Arica y Parinacota Region. However, there are not many of them left. Scientists also found that another frog, Telmatobius zapahuirensis, is actually the same species as the Arico water frog.
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Why is it called Pefauri?
The scientific name pefauri was chosen to honor someone. It is named after Jaime Eduardo Péfaur Vega. He was a Chilean scientist. He studied animals, especially frogs and reptiles. He was a friend and colleague of the scientists who first described this frog species.
What Does the Arico Water Frog Look Like?
The first adult female Arico water frog found was about 75 mm (3.0 in) long. This measurement is from its snout (nose) to its vent (tail end).
Body Shape and Features
- It has a large head and a strong body.
- Its eyes are quite big. They are placed far forward on its head and look straight ahead.
- You cannot see its eardrum (called the tympanum).
- Its fingers are long. They have fringes (small flaps) on the sides. But they do not have webbing between them.
- Its back legs are long. Its toes are also long and have some webbing.
Skin and Color
The skin on its back is mostly smooth. It has a few small bumps called tubercles. But its sides have many tiny tubercles.
The frog's back is usually olive-brown. It has clear, darker brown spots and patterns. Its belly is grayish-white. The front parts of its thighs are yellow-orange.
Size and Color Differences
More recently found frogs show some differences. Their colors can vary, even in the same area. Most are olive-brown to light brown. They often have darker patterns. Some also have small cream or light gray spots. One frog was even golden brown without any patterns.
The newer frogs found have also been smaller than the first one. Two females were about 48 and 57 mm (1.9 and 2.2 in) long. One male was about 47 mm (1.9 in) long.
Where Does the Arico Water Frog Live?
The first Arico water frog was found in a small stream. This stream was high up in the mountains, about 3,200 m (10,500 ft) above sea level. There were no plants growing in the stream.
This frog lives completely in water. The first frog was found at night, underwater. It was in a stream pool about half a meter deep.
Why is the Arico Water Frog in Danger?
In 2015, experts said the Arico water frog was "critically endangered". This means it is at very high risk of disappearing. They even thought it might be extinct.
Threats to its Home
The biggest danger to the Arico water frog is habitat loss. This means its home is being destroyed or changed. People take water from the streams for their farms and for their own use. This leaves less water for the frogs. Cows that graze nearby might also harm the streams.
Even though we now know the frog is still alive, there are not many places where it lives. The number of frogs in each place is also low. Taking water for farming is still a big problem for them.
