Pristimantis katoptroides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis katoptroides |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Strabomantidae |
| Genus: | Pristimantis |
| Subgenus: | Pristimantis |
| Species: |
P. katoptroides
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| Binomial name | |
| Pristimantis katoptroides (Flores, 1988)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Pristimantis katoptroides is a type of frog that belongs to the Strabomantidae family. It's also known as the Puyo robber frog.
You can find this frog on the eastern slopes of the Andes mountains in Ecuador. It also lives in the Central Mountain Range and the eastern foothills of the Andes in northwestern Peru.
Its scientific name, katoptroides, comes from a Greek word meaning "mirror-like". This name was chosen because the frog looks similar to another frog called Pristimantis crucifer. However, the Pristimantis katoptroides lives on the opposite side of the Andes mountains.
Contents
What Does the Puyo Robber Frog Look Like?
Adult male Puyo robber frogs are usually about 19–28 mm (0.7–1.1 in) long. This measurement is taken from their snout (nose) to their vent (tail end). Female frogs are a bit larger, measuring about 24–33 mm (0.9–1.3 in) from snout to vent.
Their snout looks rounded when you view it from above and is fairly long. The frog's eardrum, called the tympanum, is partly hidden by a fold of skin above it.
The tips of their fingers and toes have large, round pads called discs. These discs help them grip surfaces. Their fingers have faint ridges along the sides, while their toes have narrow, slightly wavy ridges.
The skin on their back feels a bit bumpy, like tiny pebbles. The skin on their belly is rough and bumpy too, but in a different way.
The color of their back can be green or greenish-brown, often with darker brown patterns. Their belly is white, sometimes with brown edges. The skin in their groin area (where their legs meet their body) and on the back of their thighs is deep blue or dark brown. Sometimes, these areas even have bright orange spots. Their eyes have a pale yellow iris with black lines that look like a net.
Where Does the Puyo Robber Frog Live?
The Puyo robber frog lives in cloud forests. These are special forests found in mountains, usually between 650–1,800 m (2,130–5,910 ft) above sea level. These frogs can live in both untouched forests and forests that have grown back after being disturbed.
You might find these frogs in the lower parts of the forest, on plants and bushes up to seven meters (about 23 feet) off the ground.
Unlike many frogs, the Puyo robber frog does not have a tadpole stage. Instead, their eggs hatch directly into tiny frogs. This is called "direct development."
Protecting the Puyo Robber Frog
Even though the Puyo robber frog is not seen very often, it is found somewhat regularly in eastern Ecuador.
Some things can threaten these frogs, like cows grazing where they live or mining activities. However, because they can live in forests that have grown back, it suggests they can handle some changes made by humans.
A frog disease called Chytridiomycosis has been found in this species. But, experts do not think it is a major threat to the Puyo robber frog right now.
The good news is that these frogs live in several protected areas. These include the Podocarpus National Park and Sangay National Park in Ecuador. In Peru, they are found in the Alto Mayo Protection Forest and the Santiago-Comaina Reserved Zone. These protected areas help keep their homes safe.
See also
- In Spanish: Cutín del Puyo para niños
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 | Charles Hayes |
 | Cleveland Robinson |
