Pristimantis tribulosus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis tribulosus |
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| Pristimantis tribulosus is only known from Samaná in the Cordillera Central of Colombia. | |
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The Pristimantis tribulosus is a type of frog that belongs to the Strabomantidae family. This special frog is found only in Colombia. It lives near a place called Samaná in the Caldas Department. This area is on the eastern side of the Cordillera Central, which is part of the Andes mountains. The name tribulosus means "thorny." This is because the frog has many small bumps, like thorns, on its upper skin.
What Does This Frog Look Like?
Adult female Pristimantis tribulosus frogs are about 26.5 mm (1.0 in) long. This measurement is from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom). We know this from only two female frogs. The only male frog found when the species was first described was smaller. It was about 11.6 mm (0.5 in) long.
The frog's head is a bit narrower than its body. It is also longer than it is wide. Its snout is long and pointy when you look from above. It sticks out when you look from the side. The frog has an eardrum, called a tympanum, that is taller than it is wide. The skin above its eardrum is not very clear.
The fingers of this frog are long and thin. They have small edges on the sides and round tips. Its toes are also long and thin. But they do not have the small edges like the fingers. The tips of the toes are smaller than the tips of the fingers. The skin on the frog's back is finely bumpy. It has thick folds along its spine. There are also many cone-shaped bumps all over its back.
The frog's back is a moss green color. It has a blurry brown pattern. Its sides are a plain green. Its legs have reddish-brown stripes. The throat and the front part of its belly are a light cream color. This color changes to a very light yellow towards the back of its belly.
Where Does This Frog Live and How Is It Protected?
The Pristimantis tribulosus frog lives in cloud forests. These forests are high up in the mountains. They are found at elevations from 1,900–2,400 m (6,200–7,900 ft) above sea level. This frog is nocturnal, which means it is active at night. It is usually found on low plants in thick, untouched forests. However, one frog was found in a forest that had been regrown.
These frogs do not have a tadpole stage. Instead, their young develop directly into small frogs. This means they skip the free-swimming larval stage.
The Pristimantis tribulosus is a rare frog. It is known from only one small area of forest. This might be partly because not many people have looked for it. Its home is at risk because of things like people collecting wood. Pine tree farms and new farms also cause habitat loss. But there is good news! This frog lives in the Selva de Florencia National Natural Park. This park is a well-protected area.
