Pristimantis ceuthospilus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis ceuthospilus |
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The Pristimantis ceuthospilus is a special kind of frog that lives in Peru. It's part of the Strabomantidae family of frogs. This frog is endemic to northern Peru, meaning it's found only in that area! It lives on the western slopes of the Huancabamba Depression and the Pacific side of the Cordillera Occidental mountains. There are also some reports that it might live in southern Ecuador, but scientists haven't fully confirmed that yet.
Its scientific name, ceuthospilus, comes from two ancient Greek words: keuthos meaning "hidden" and spilos meaning "spot". This name is perfect because the frog has bright yellow spots on its groin and thighs that you can't see when it's sitting down. Its common name is Wild's robber frog.
What Does the Wild's Robber Frog Look Like?
Adult male frogs are about 19–26 mm (0.7–1.0 in) long from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom). Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring about 24–27 mm (0.9–1.1 in) long. Their snout is nicely rounded.
The frog has a round eardrum, called a tympanum, which is easy to see. However, a small fold of skin above it can sometimes hide part of it. Its fingers and toes have oval-shaped pads and small ridges along the sides, but they don't have webbing like some other frogs.
The skin on its back is a bit bumpy, like sandpaper, with tiny, round bumps. The skin on its belly is grainy. The frog's color can change a lot! Its back can be brown in the middle, fading to a pale tan on the sides and snout. It can also be gray, tan, or medium brown with faint darker patterns, or even a uniform yellowish-olive color.
Remember those "hidden spots"? They are bright yellow to orange and are found in the groin area and on the back of its thighs. You can only see them when the frog moves! The frog's belly is clear yellow or yellowish-white. Male frogs have a large, bright yellow vocal sac under their chin, which they use to make calls.
Where Does the Wild's Robber Frog Live?
The Wild's robber frog lives in tropical low mountain and mountain forests. It can be found at high elevations, from about 1,082–2,870 m (3,550–9,416 ft) above sea level.
Male frogs that are calling have been seen sitting on leaves and stems of plants. These plants were slightly above the ground along a road in a cloud forest. Both male and female frogs have been found resting inside bromeliad plants during the day.
Unlike many frogs that lay eggs that hatch into tadpoles, the Wild's robber frog has a special way of developing. Its babies grow directly into tiny frogs without a free-living tadpole stage! This is called direct development.
Protecting the Wild's Robber Frog
This frog is currently facing threats, mainly from habitat loss. Its forest home is being cleared for farming, raising livestock, and cutting down trees.
However, there's good news! This frog probably lives in the Salitral-Huarmaca Regional Conservation Area. This protected area helps keep its habitat safe.
