Hyloxalus pulchellus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hyloxalus pulchellus |
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Phyllodromus pulchellum Jiménez de la Espada, 1875 |
The Hyloxalus pulchellus is a type of frog that belongs to the Dendrobatidae family. You can find this frog in the northern parts of Ecuador and the southern areas of Colombia.
Where This Frog Lives
The Hyloxalus pulchellus frog makes its home in the Andes mountains. It lives in the high, grassy areas called páramos in northern Ecuador and nearby parts of Colombia. These areas include the Nariño and Cauca Departments. You can also find it on the eastern side of the Andes, going south into Ecuador.
These frogs live at different heights in the mountains, from about 1,590 to 2,970 meters (around 5,216 to 9,744 feet) above sea level. At the very highest parts of this range, the Hyloxalus pulchellus is often the only frog species of its kind you'll find.
What This Frog Looks Like
Male Hyloxalus pulchellus frogs are usually about 17 to 22 millimeters (0.67 to 0.87 inches) long from their snout to their rear end. Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring about 20 to 24 millimeters (0.79 to 0.94 inches) long.
Their backs are a dark brown color, sometimes with a soft greenish tint. They have a stripe on their side that goes up towards their eye. This stripe is a creamy color with a shiny golden look, and sometimes it has brown or black edges.
Frog Behavior
Male Hyloxalus pulchellus frogs like to call out to attract mates. They usually do this while sitting in or under grass. Their call sounds like a buzzing noise. They can buzz about 72 times in just four minutes!
Home and Protection
These frogs naturally live in both dry and humid mountain forests. Sadly, their homes are shrinking because of habitat loss, which means their natural living spaces are being destroyed. They might also be affected by climate change, which causes changes in weather patterns.
Another threat is a frog disease called chytridiomycosis, which can be very harmful to amphibians. The Hyloxalus pulchellus has disappeared from many places in Ecuador. However, it is still quite common in Colombia.
