Pristimantis tenebrionis facts for kids
Pristimantis tenebrionis is a special kind of frog that belongs to a family called Strabomantidae. This frog is quite rare and can only be found in one country: Ecuador. It lives in warm, wet forests that are close to sea level. Sadly, this frog is in danger because its home, the forest, is shrinking.
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What is Pristimantis tenebrionis?
Pristimantis tenebrionis is a type of frog. It was first described by scientists Lynch and Miyata in 1980. This means they were the first to officially name and study this particular frog species. It is part of a large group of frogs known as the Strabomantidae family. This family includes many different kinds of frogs, especially those found in Central and South America.
Where Does This Frog Live?
This frog is what we call "endemic" to Ecuador. When an animal is endemic, it means it naturally lives only in that one specific place and nowhere else in the world. So, you would only find Pristimantis tenebrionis in Ecuador.
Its natural home, or habitat, is in tropical moist lowland forests. Imagine a forest that is always warm and gets a lot of rain, and it's not very high up in the mountains. These forests are full of tall trees, many plants, and lots of moisture, which is perfect for frogs.
Why is This Frog in Danger?
Sadly, Pristimantis tenebrionis is a threatened species. This means there are not many of them left, and they could disappear forever if we don't protect them. The main reason they are in danger is habitat loss.
Habitat loss happens when the places where animals live are destroyed or changed. For this frog, it means the tropical forests where it lives are being cut down or cleared for other uses. This can happen because of:
- Farming: Forests are cleared to make space for farms to grow crops or raise animals.
- Logging: Trees are cut down for wood to build things or make paper.
- Building: Land is used to build towns, roads, or other structures.
When their forest homes are lost, these frogs have nowhere to live, find food, or lay their eggs. This makes it very hard for them to survive and have baby frogs.
How Can We Help?
Protecting animals like Pristimantis tenebrionis is very important. When we protect their habitats, we also help many other plants and animals that live in the same place. Conservation efforts, like creating protected areas and planting new trees, can help save these special frogs and their homes for the future.
See also
- In Spanish: Pristimantis tenebrionis para niños
