Fun Cave Squeaker Facts For Kids
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The cave squeaker (Arthroleptis troglodytes) is a type of squeaker frog which is endemic to the Chimanimani Mountains of Zimbabwe, in South Africa.
After being presumed extinct after its last sighting in 1962, this rare species was rediscovered in 2017, after almost five decades, by a team of researchers in the area. This rare frog is named after the squeaky sound it makes, and its cave-dwelling tendencies.
All individuals of this species have been found inhabiting a single cave, and scientists are currently trying to breed this species in captivity in order to release them into the wild and bring their population up to a healthy number.
To learn more about these amazing amphibians, read on! You can also find out about more interesting animals on our Goliath frog and African clawed frog pages.
Cave Squeaker Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a cave squeaker?
The cave squeaker (Arthroleptis troglodytes) is a species of squeaker frog that is endemic to the Chimanimani mountains of Zimbabwe.
What class of animal does a cave squeaker belong to?
The cave squeaker frog belongs to the class of Amphibians, to the frog family Arthroleptidae.
How many cave squeakers are there in the world?
Though the exact number of this amphibian in the wild is currently unknown, we do know that their current population is very low, landing them in the Critically Endangered section of the IUCN Red List. After being thought being extinct for five decades, the finding of four specimens bought their conservation status up to Critically Endangered.
Where does a cave squeaker live?
The cave squeaker is endemic to the Chimanimani Mountains of Zimbabwe, in South Africa.
What is a cave squeaker's habitat?
The cave squeaker frog prefers living in tropical and subtropical high altitude caves and open montane grassland, as seen from its endemic habitat of Zimbabwe.
Who do cave squeakers live with?
These frogs are found concentrated in a single location, in the caves of the Chimanimani mountains, hence it is assumed that they live in groups.
How long does a cave squeaker live?
Though the exact lifespan of the cave squeaker is unknown, we do know that the Ugandan squeaker lives for about six months, which is probably how long this frog species lives.
How do they reproduce?
Cave squeaker frogs are oviparous in nature, which means they reproduce by laying eggs. Though not much is known about their breeding habits, they mostly breed like other frogs, pairing up and mating.
The eggs are all laid in a single, damp location, unlike other frogs which lay their eggs in water. The tadpoles form and change into miniature frogs before hatching.
What is their conservation status?
According to the IUCN Red List, this rare frog species is currently Critically Endangered, with its current known population being found in a very small area.
Cave Squeaker Fun Facts
What do cave squeakers look like?
The tiny cave squeaker frog is light brown, and it has dark speckling on the back of its head. Its back is dark brown, with its arms and legs being banded. The tips of its fingers and toes are swollen.
We've been unable to source an image of a cave squeaker and have used an image of a bush squeaker instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a cave squeaker, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.How cute are they?
Because of their tiny size, colorful skin, and squeaky voice, these adorable frogs are very cute to look at.
How do they communicate?
The cave squeaker is named after the recognizable, high-pitched sound which they make. The cave squeaker sound is often likened to that of a squeaky toy.
How big is a cave squeaker?
The cave squeaker is quite small, measuring only 1 in (25.4 mm) in length!
How fast can a cave squeaker move?
As there is not much information available about these amphibians, we do not know how fast they move.
How much does a cave squeaker weigh?
Unfortunately, we do not have any reports on how much the cave squeakers weigh, though according to its small size we can say that it weighs very little.
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no specific names for either sex of this amphibian species, simply being called male or female frogs.
What would you call a baby cave squeaker?
A baby cave squeaker frog is called a froglet.
What do they eat?
Though the eating habits of the cave squeaker frog are unknown, common squeakers are carnivorous in nature, feeding on snails, earthworms, and small insects. Cave squeakers, being smaller in size, may ear smaller snails, worms, and insects in order to survive.
Are they poisonous?
As this species of rare frog has just been rediscovered, there is currently not much information on whether it is poisonous or not.
Would they make a good pet?
No, since the cave squeaker is a Critically Endangered species, it is illegal to keep it as a pet. Also, not much is currently known about this rare frog, making it a very risky choice as a pet.
It is unknown whether it is poisonous or harmful to humans in any way, and as some frog species can be very dangerous, it's better to keep away from them.
Did you know...
Unlike other frogs, cave squeakers hatch as fully grown miniature frogs and forgo the tadpole phase which all other frogs go through. Due to this, their eggs are laid in damp soil and not in water.
After believing to be extinct after its last known sighting in 1962, this frog species was spotted in its natural habitat of Zimbabwe after almost five decades, in 2017! Four specimens were found by a team of researchers.
Currently, researchers are planning to breed these frogs and release them into the wild to protect their numbers.
The team to confirm the sightings of this rare frog species was led by Robert Hopkins, a research associate at the Natural History Museum in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. After the four specimens were found, this amphibian species was confirmed to be Critically Endangered and not extinct as was thought for five decades.
How many eggs do cave squeakers lay?
Not much information is known about these frogs, including how many eggs they lay. Other squeaker species lay between 30-80 eggs at a time, which is probably how many eggs the cave squeaker lays. They also lay their eggs in warm, damp places instead of in the water like other frog species do.
Is the cave squeaker endemic?
The cave squeaker is endemic to the Chimanimani Mountains in Zimbabwe, where it was recently discovered again after five decades of disappearance. All the individuals of this species have so far been found inhabiting a single cave, and its area of residence is thought to be only within a 3.9 sq. mi (10 sq. km) area.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Chinese giant salamander facts and spring salamander facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable salamander coloring pages.
Second image by Serban Proches.
*We've been unable to source an image of a cave squeaker and have used an image of a bush squeaker instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a cave squeaker, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.
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