Pristimantis jubatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis jubatus |
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Eleutherodactylus jubatus García and Lynch, 2006 |
Pristimantis jubatus is a type of frog that lives in the Andes mountains of Colombia. It belongs to the family Strabomantidae. This frog is endemic to the Western Andes of Colombia, meaning it's found naturally nowhere else in the world!
You can find Pristimantis jubatus in places like Munchique National Park in the Cauca Department and Farallones de Cali in the Valle del Cauca Department. Its scientific name, jubatus, is a Latin word that means "crested." This refers to the cool crests that are found on the frog's head.
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What Does the Crested Rain Frog Look Like?
These frogs are not very big. Adult male Pristimantis jubatus frogs are about 20–31 mm (0.8–1.2 in) long from their snout to their rear. Female frogs are a bit larger, measuring about 32–38 mm (1.3–1.5 in).
The head of this frog is usually wider than it is long. For males, the head is wider than their body. For females, it's almost as wide as their body. They have a round snout and special crests on their head.
Body Features
The frog has a clear eardrum (tympanum). There are also noticeable folds on its back, running along its sides. Its fingers have fringes on the sides and round tips, except for the thumb. The toes also have fringes and round tips, but these are smaller than the tips on its outer fingers.
Color and Patterns
The back of the Pristimantis jubatus frog can be orange-brown, sparkling ochre, or brown-cream. Often, you can see a black pattern on its back that looks like the letter "W".
Its belly is cream or golden yellow, usually with brown or gray spots. The throat is cream or pale yellow with gray spots. The sides of its body are cream or brown-cream with brown patterns that look like a net. The iris (the colored part of its eye) is golden orange with black net-like patterns.
Where Does the Crested Rain Frog Live?
Pristimantis jubatus lives in humid mountain forests. They are found at high elevations, from about 2,550–3,084 m (8,366–10,118 ft) above sea level.
Daily Life and Diet
These frogs are active at night. They spend their time in the humid plants and trees that grow under the main forest canopy, usually less than 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) above the ground. Adult frogs tend to be found higher up in the plants than younger frogs.
The Pristimantis jubatus frog eats whatever small creatures it can find in its habitat. Its diet mainly includes flies and ants or bees. They also eat spiders and beetles.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
These frogs have a special way of developing. Unlike many frogs, they do not have a free-swimming tadpole stage. Instead, their young develop directly into small frogs. It seems they reproduce throughout the entire year.
Protecting the Crested Rain Frog
The Pristimantis jubatus frog is quite common in Munchique National Park. Currently, it is not facing many big dangers. However, there is a future risk from pine tree farms expanding into their habitat. In Farallones de Cali Natural Park, a different threat is illegal gold mining, which can harm their environment.
