1. Distribution and Habitat

2. Threats

3. Ecology

4. References

The Highland frog (Lithobates maculatus)^[1] is a species of frog in the family Ranidae, and it's most popularly found in south - eastern Brazil. Other places where they have been discovered include El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Haiti, Mexico, and Nicaragua.^[2] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, and freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss. However, the Highland frog might be already extinct because it has not been recorded in the wild in many years. It's a small frog that has an olive - brown skin color with irregular dark patches around its body. The belly of the frog is a cream color, and the tips of the frog's hands are a bright yellow. It has a large, wide head with an oval body and a rounded snout. It has short limbs, and has large eyes that face forward. The Highland frog's eyes have diamond - shaped pupils. The female frogs are slightly larger than the male frogs. The length of their snouts have been recorded up to 3.7 centimeters.^[3]

Distribution and Habitat

Highland frogs are a terrestrial species. They're often found under mulch, leaves, and stones in open grasslands or sparse forests. They have also been known to live in burrows and other shaded places. These frogs are most popularly found in south - eastern Brazil. As the name suggests, Highland frogs are found in the highlands of the Itatiaia Mountains in Brazil. They are found at elevations of around 2,100 to 2,600 meters above sea level. They were frequently found there up until the 1970's, but they haven't been seen there for a long time. Because of this, they are believed to most likely be extinct. They are also known to live shrub lands, in moist areas.^[3][4]

Threats

Highland frogs are classified as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. The species has been impacted by multiple factors leading to their possible extinction. Highland frogs have been reported to be affected by extreme frosts. It's believed that the species has been reduced so much because of tourist activities and wildfires. More possibilities leading to their extinction include disease, pollution, and climate change. The extreme change in temperature has led to the rapidly decreasing population.^[3][5]

Ecology

Although very little information about the reproduction of highland frogs is available, it's believed that they breed by direct development. They lay their eggs under mulch and leaves, and a parent will guard the eggs.^[4] If threatened, the parent highland frog will raise itself on its forelimbs, and hiss at the potential predator to try to make it go away. The offspring, however, bypasses the larval stage and becomes a miniature adult when it hatches from its egg.^[3]

References

• Thames River
• Thames River Bridge
• Thames River Bridge (Amtrak)
• Thames River Multi Hedge PCC
• Thames River Services
• Thames River Steamers
• Thames School of Mines
• Thames Silents
• Thames South School
• Thames steamboats
• Thames steamers
• Thames Street
• Thames Street, London
• Thames Street, Oxford
• Thames Tideway
• Thames Tradesmen Rowing Club
• Thames Tradesmen's Rowing Club
• Thames Travel
• Thames Turbo
• Thames Turbo (disambiguation)
• Thames Turbos
• Thames Valley College (disambiguation)
• Thames Valley Cricket League
• Thames Valley (disambiguation)
• Thames Valley (European Parliament constituency)