Pristimantis polemistes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis polemistes |
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| Pristimantis polemistes is only known from Urrao on the western flank of the Cordillera Occidental, Colombia | |
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The Pristimantis polemistes is a type of frog that belongs to the Strabomantidae family. This frog is found only in Colombia, which means it is endemic to that country. It is known from a small area near Urrao, in the Antioquia Department. This area is on the western side of the Cordillera Occidental, which is part of the Colombian Andes mountains. The name polemistes comes from a Greek word meaning "warrior." This name refers to the people who were involved in conflicts in the area where the frog was first found.
What Does It Look Like?
Male Pristimantis polemistes frogs are quite small. They measure about 27 to 28 millimeters (about 1 inch) from their snout to their rear end. Female frogs are a bit larger. The only known female specimen was about 33 millimeters (about 1.3 inches) long.
This frog has a short, rounded snout. Its eardrum, called the tympanum, is shaped like a tall oval. The frog's fingers have small ridges along their sides. Both the fingers and toes have round, flat pads at their tips. These pads help the frog grip surfaces.
The skin on its back, called the dorsum, has many tiny bumps. The frog's back can be brown or dark olive green. It often has dark brown or black spots that are outlined with yellow or orange. The sides of its body, called the flanks, are brown or olive green. They might have dark brown spots or sometimes small white specks. There are also white glands located above its arms and near its groin area.
The frog's legs and arms have dark brown or black stripes. These stripes are edged with yellow or whitish-yellow. The belly of the male frog is dark brown with large whitish spots. The female's belly is pale brown or brownish-olive with tiny black bumps. The iris of its eye is red on the top and bronze on the bottom. It also has a black stripe going across it. Male frogs have a special pouch under their throat called a subgular vocal sac. They use this sac to make calls.
Habitat and Life Cycle
Pristimantis polemistes lives in parts of old, untouched forests. These forests are usually found near streams. The frogs live at high elevations, between 2,300 and 2,320 meters (about 7,500 to 7,600 feet) above sea level.
Unlike many frogs, Pristimantis polemistes does not have a tadpole stage. This means its development is "direct." Young frogs hatch directly from the eggs, looking like tiny versions of the adults.
Conservation Status
The Pristimantis polemistes frog is only known from two places that are very close to each other. In 2018, when its conservation status was last checked, no new frogs had been found since 1988. The only known frogs were the first ones ever discovered.
Scientists believe this frog does not do well when its home is disturbed. Sadly, the forest where it was first found has already been cut down for cattle farming. Habitat loss is still a big problem in that area. It is possible that this frog might live in the nearby Las Orquídeas National Natural Park. However, surveys done in 2014 in the park did not find any of these frogs. The park also needs better protection for its habitats.
