Pristimantis ocreatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis ocreatus |
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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. ocreatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Pristimantis ocreatus (Lynch, 1981)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Carchi robber frog (scientific name: Pristimantis ocreatus) is a type of frog. It belongs to a family called Craugastoridae. This frog is mostly found in the Andes mountains of northern Ecuador. It has also been seen in southern Colombia.
This frog gets its common name, Carchi robber frog, from the Carchi Province in Ecuador. That's where it was first discovered. Its scientific name, ocreatus, is Latin. It means "wearing leggings" or "booted." This is because these frogs have pale hands and feet, almost like they are wearing gloves and socks!
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About the Carchi Robber Frog
What Does It Look Like?
The Carchi robber frog is a small frog. Male frogs are about 12 to 17 millimeters long. Female frogs are a bit bigger, around 20 millimeters long. That's about the size of a small coin!
Their back and upper sides are dark brown. Some frogs have a reddish-brown stripe down their back. Many also have pale orange spots along their sides. Their belly and lower sides are black with white spots. Their hands and feet are white, except for the outer edges. The frog's eyes have a blue-gray color. The skin on its back has small bumps and ridges.
Where Does It Live?
The Carchi robber frog lives in special mountain areas. These areas are called sub-páramo and páramo habitats. These are high-altitude grasslands and shrublands. It can also live in forests that are growing back after being cut down.
These frogs live at very high elevations. They are found from about 3,000 to 4,150 meters (about 9,800 to 13,600 feet) above sea level. They are also a fossorial species. This means they like to burrow or live underground. Scientists have found them hiding under rocks and clumps of dirt during the day.
Why Is This Frog Important?
The Carchi robber frog shares its home with other frog species. For example, in a place called Páramos del Angel, it lives alongside larger frogs like Pristimantis curtipes and Pristimantis thymelensis.
Protecting the Carchi Robber Frog
Sadly, the Carchi robber frog is facing dangers. Its habitat is shrinking. This is mainly because of farming and people cutting down trees for wood. There were also big fires in 2002 and 2003. These fires might have completely wiped out this frog from some areas, like Páramos del Angel. Protecting their mountain homes is very important for these unique frogs to survive.
 | Delilah Pierce |
 | Gordon Parks |
 | Augusta Savage |
 | Charles Ethan Porter |
