Pristimantis leptolophus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis leptolophus |
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The Pristimantis leptolophus is a special kind of frog. It belongs to a group of frogs called the Strabomantidae family. This frog is also known by a cool common name: the volcano robber frog.
This frog is found only in Colombia, which means it is endemic there. You can find it in the high mountain areas called páramos. These areas are in the Colombian Massif and Central Mountain Range. Specifically, it lives in the Cauca and Huila regions.
The name leptolophus comes from ancient Greek words. Leptos means "thin," and lophos means "crest." This name describes the frog's low, thin folds on its back.
What Does the Volcano Robber Frog Look Like?
These frogs are quite small. Adult males are about 14–18 mm (0.55–0.71 in) long. Adult females are a bit bigger, measuring around 21–25 mm (0.83–0.98 in) from their nose to their bottom.
The frog's snout, or nose area, is short and rounded. It looks oval or slightly pointed from above. The tympanum, which is like its eardrum, is easy to see. It has a raised ring around it, even though a fold of skin might partly cover it.
The skin on the frog's back, called the dorsum, feels smooth. However, it also has many small bumps, like warts, and short, low ridges. Both its fingers and toes have special sticky pads, called discs. They also have thin edges, called lateral fringes. These features help the frog climb.
When these frogs are preserved, their backs are usually pale brown. They have darker brown marks, like stripes or bars. Their sides often have brown blotches.
Where Does the Volcano Robber Frog Live?
The volcano robber frog lives in páramos and cloud forests. These are cool, misty places high up in the mountains. They can be found at heights between 2,400–3,300 m (7,900–10,800 ft) above sea level.
These frogs are most active at night. They like to climb on plants, sometimes as high as 1 meter off the ground. During the day, they hide. You can find them under rocks and logs, especially where the soil is very wet.
Is the Volcano Robber Frog Safe?
Good news! The Pristimantis leptolophus is a very common frog. Scientists do not think it faces any big dangers right now.
This frog lives in protected areas. Its home includes the Nevado del Huila and Puracé National Natural Parks. These parks help keep its habitat safe.
