Thoropa saxatilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thoropa saxatilis |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
The Brazilian river frog (scientific name: Thoropa saxatilis) is a type of frog that belongs to the Cycloramphidae family. This special frog lives only in southern Brazil, in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. This area is the very southern part of a large forest called the Atlantic Forest. The name saxatilis means "living among rocks," which tells us a lot about where this frog likes to be!
Contents
What Does the Brazilian River Frog Look Like?
Adult male Brazilian river frogs are about 41 to 58 millimeters (1.6 to 2.3 inches) long. This measurement is taken from their snout (nose) to their vent (the opening where waste leaves the body). Their snout is rounded.
Frog Features
These frogs have a clear and fairly large eardrum, called a tympanum. It's about the same size as their eye. A fold of skin above the eardrum partly covers it from the top.
Their fingertips have noticeable pads, like little sticky discs, which help them grip surfaces. The pads on their toes are not as big. Male frogs have a dark group of tiny spines on their thumbs. Their other fingers also have two or three rows of these spines. Both their fingers and toes have small ridges along the sides, but they do not have webbing between them.
Color and Appearance
When these frogs are preserved, they look mottled. This means they have patches of dark and light brown or gray colors. The top parts of their legs have stripes. Their belly is a creamy color, sometimes with a bit of brown. These frogs do not have a vocal sac, which is what many frogs use to make loud calls.
Tadpole Appearance
The tadpoles of the Brazilian river frog are long and have a flat body. Their tail fin is low and has a rounded tip. The largest tadpoles, when they are almost ready to become frogs, are about 34 millimeters (1.3 inches) long. About one-third of their total length is their body.
Where Does This Frog Live?
The Brazilian river frog lives on rocky cliffs in areas covered by forests. They are found at elevations between 300 and 1000 meters (about 980 to 3,280 feet) above sea level.
Favorite Spots
The very first Brazilian river frog studied was found on a rock near a small waterfall. Other male frogs have been seen along road cuts. These are places where water trickles down steep rock faces. Tadpoles have also been found in these same wet, rocky spots. The female frogs lay their eggs under waterfalls, right on the rocks.
Protecting the Brazilian River Frog
This frog is not often seen or collected by scientists. It seems to have disappeared from some places where it used to live.
Threats to Their Home
The Brazilian river frog can be in danger because its home is changing. This includes things like:
- Losing their habitat (the place they live).
- Changes to how water flows, like if streams dry up or get rerouted.
- Sedimentation, which is when dirt and sand build up in their watery homes.
- Forests being cut down.
Interestingly, these frogs have also vanished from some areas that still look like good places for them to live.
Other Dangers
A disease called Chytridiomycosis is also a possible threat. This is a serious fungal disease that affects amphibians worldwide.
Safe Places
Luckily, the Brazilian river frog lives in some protected areas. These include the Serra Geral and Aparados da Serra National Parks. These parks help keep their habitat safe.
