Pristimantis modipeplus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis modipeplus |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Strabomantidae |
| Genus: | Pristimantis |
| Species: |
P. modipeplus
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| Binomial name | |
| Pristimantis modipeplus (Lynch, 1981)
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| Synonyms | |
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Pristimantis modipeplus is a special type of frog that belongs to the Strabomantidae family. It's also known as the Urbina robber frog. This frog is found only in a specific part of the world: the Andes mountains in central Ecuador. You can find it in areas like Chimborazo, Pichincha, and Tungurahua Provinces. Being "endemic" means it lives naturally only in this one place.
What Does the Urbina Robber Frog Look Like?
Adult male Urbina robber frogs are about 25–29 mm (1.0–1.1 in) long. The females are a bit bigger, measuring 28–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in) from their snout to their bottom.
Their head is a bit narrower than their body. It's also a little wider than it is long. The front of their face, called the snout, looks pointed from above. From the side, it's more rounded.
You can see their eardrum (called the tympanum) clearly. However, a thick fold of skin above it hides the very top part. The tips of their fingers and toes have special discs. These discs help them grip surfaces.
The frog's back is usually brown or reddish-brown. It often has a creamy-tan bar between its eyes. There's also a creamy spot near its lower back. Both of these creamy areas have black edges.
The skin in their armpits, groin, and on the hidden parts of their legs is reddish-orange or even blood red. Male frogs have a pale yellow throat. Their belly is a dirty cream color. It might also have gray and brown swirly patterns. The frog's eyes are gray with brown patterns. They also have a reddish-brown line going across them. Male frogs have a special pouch under their throat, called a vocal sac. They use this to make calls.
Where Does the Urbina Robber Frog Live?
The Urbina robber frog lives in páramo grasslands. These are high-altitude grassy areas. It also lives in sub-páramo bush lands. These are areas with small bushes just below the main páramo. They can be found at heights from 2,560–3,700 m (8,400–12,140 ft) above sea level.
Scientists have found these frogs in interesting places. Some were found under a large flat rock next to a stream. Others were found under clumps of dirt in a pond that had dried up. Unlike many frogs, this species likely develops directly. This means they hatch from eggs as tiny frogs, not as tadpoles.
Protecting the Urbina Robber Frog
The Urbina robber frog is not a very common species. Its home is in danger. This is mainly because of habitat loss. Habitat loss happens when the places animals live are destroyed or changed. For these frogs, it's due to things like farming and raising livestock. Also, new pine tree farms can take away their natural habitat.
Sadly, this frog is not known to live in any protected areas. This makes it even more important to help save its habitat.
 | John T. Biggers |
 | Thomas Blackshear |
 | Mark Bradford |
 | Beverly Buchanan |
