Thorny tree frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thorny tree frog |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
The Gracixalus lumarius, also known as the thorny tree frog or thorny bushfrog, is a special type of rhacophorid frog. It lives only in Vietnam. This frog was first found on Mount Ngoc Linh in the Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve, located in Kon Tum Province. Scientists have seen it living high up in the mountains, between 1700 and 2160 meters above sea level.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Adult male thorny tree frogs are about 3.9 to 4.2 centimeters long from their nose to their bottom. Adult females are a bit smaller, around 3.6 centimeters long. When you look at the frog from above, its head is wider than it is long. Its nose area is rounded. From the side, its lower jaw looks shorter than its upper jaw, almost like an underbite.
The frog's nostrils stick out a little. It has strong front legs with big sticky pads on its toes, which help it climb. The frog's eardrum (called the tympanum) is hard to see. Male frogs have small, pointy white bumps, called tubercles, on their bodies. These bumps might become more noticeable when it's time for them to find a mate.
This frog is special because it can change its skin color. During the day, its back is brown. But at night, it turns yellow! Its sides are also a bright yellow. Its belly and throat are pink. The tips of its toes and the skin between its toes (webbed skin) are pink-gray. The frog's eyes have a gold color. Like other frogs in its group, it has black lines in its eyes. But unlike others, these lines are straight and even.
How Does It Reproduce?
Female thorny tree frogs lay their eggs inside plants that collect water. These water-filled spots in plants are called phytotelma. The eggs are protected by two layers of jelly. Scientists believe that these eggs hatch into free-swimming tadpoles. However, no tadpoles of this specific frog have been seen by scientists as of 2015. Scientists think these frogs must lay their eggs only in these water-filled plants.
Where Does It Live and What Are the Dangers?
The Gracixalus lumarius is a tree-dwelling frog, meaning it lives in trees. It prefers undisturbed mountain forests with evergreen trees and bamboo. It lives at high elevations, from about 1845 to 2160 meters above sea level.
This frog is considered an endangered species. This is because it lives in a small area, and its home is in danger. People are cutting down the forests where these frogs live. They do this to create large farms for crops like coffee, tea, and rubber. Mining, especially for gold, also harms the frog's habitat. Scientists also worry that people might catch these beautiful, colorful frogs to sell as pets.
What's in a Name?
The word lumarius comes from Latin and means "of thorns." This name refers to the frog's unique white, thorny-looking bumps (tubercles) on its body.
