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Telmatobufo venustus facts for kids

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Telmatobufo venustus
Telmatobufo venustus 1 1.JPG
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Synonyms

Bufo venustus Philippi, 1899

The Telmatobufo venustus, also known as the Chilean swamp toad, is a special type of frog. It belongs to a family of frogs called Calyptocephalellidae, which are mostly found in Chile. This frog is endemic to Chile, meaning it lives naturally only in that country.

You can find this unique frog on the western side of the Andes mountains in Chile. Specifically, it lives in the Maule and Bío Bío regions. Its favorite places are cool streams in forests filled with Nothofagus trees. It often hides under rocks right next to these streams.

Where It Lives

The Telmatobufo venustus is quite rare. There is only one place where a healthy group of these frogs is known to live. This place is the Altos de Lircay National Reserve in the Maule region.

There were two other places in the Bío Bío region where these frogs were once seen. One was near Chillan, where the first frog of this kind was found in 1899. However, scientists looked for it there in 2014 and could not find any. The other place was Ralco, but the last time a Telmatobufo venustus was seen there was way back in 1981.

Why It's in Danger

Sadly, the Telmatobufo venustus is an endangered species. This means its numbers are very low, and it could disappear forever if we don't protect it. The main reason it's in danger is habitat loss.

  • Fires: Wildfires can destroy the forests and streams where these frogs live.
  • Plantations: Native forests are sometimes cut down to plant pine and eucalyptus trees. These new tree farms don't provide the right kind of home for the frogs.
  • Dams: In places like Ralco, large dams built for hydropower can change the rivers and streams, making them unsuitable for the frogs.
  • Trout: In the Altos de Lircay Reserve, trout fish have been introduced. These trout can eat the frog's eggs and young, which is another threat to their survival.

Protecting the Telmatobufo venustus means protecting its forest and stream homes from these dangers.

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