Pristimantis elegans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis elegans |
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The Elegant Robber Frog (Pristimantis elegans) is a type of frog. It belongs to the Strabomantidae family. This frog lives only in the Andes mountains of Colombia. You can find it in the Eastern Andes in areas like Cundinamarca and Boyacá Department. People often call it the "elegant robber frog" because of its scientific name.
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What Does the Elegant Robber Frog Look Like?
The Elegant Robber Frog has a strong, sturdy body. Male frogs found in the Chingaza National Natural Park are about 37 to 40 millimeters (1.5 to 1.6 inches) long. Its snout, or nose area, looks rounded from above. From the side, it looks flat at the end.
This frog has big, noticeable eyes. It also has a clear tympanum, which is like an eardrum. Its fingers are long and have special edges called lateral fringes. The toes are not too long and have a little bit of webbing at their base.
How Does the Elegant Robber Frog Communicate?
Male Elegant Robber Frogs make a special call to attract females. This call sounds like pulses. Each call has about 2 to 7 notes. Each note then has 3 to 7 smaller pulses.
The whole call can last from 0.4 to 2.7 seconds. The main sound frequency is around 1585 Hertz (Hz). This is how they "talk" to each other in their habitat.
Where Does the Elegant Robber Frog Live?
The Elegant Robber Frog lives in special places called páramos and cloud forests. These areas are high up in the mountains. They can be found at elevations from 2,600 to 3,650 meters (about 8,500 to 12,000 feet) above sea level.
These frogs usually hide in grassy plants and very small bushes. Male frogs often call out at night while sitting on plants.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The Elegant Robber Frog has a unique way of growing up. Unlike many frogs, it does not have a free-living tadpole stage. This means the eggs hatch directly into tiny froglets. They skip the swimming tadpole part of their life cycle. This is called direct development.
Conservation and Threats
The Elegant Robber Frog is a common species in the areas where it lives. However, it is only found in a few specific locations. This frog faces threats to its home. Its habitat is being lost and damaged. This happens because of activities like mining, farming, and raising cattle.
Luckily, the Elegant Robber Frog lives in protected areas. These include the Chingaza National Natural Park and Sumapaz National Park. These parks help keep their homes safe.
See also
In Spanish: Pristimantis elegans para niños
