Pristimantis variabilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis variabilis |
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| Conservation status | |
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Pristimantis
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| Species: |
variabilis
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The variable robber frog (scientific name: Pristimantis variabilis) is a type of frog. It belongs to the Strabomantidae family. You can find this frog in the Amazon rainforest. It also lives on the slopes of the Andes mountains. Its home countries include southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and western Brazil. The name variabilis means "variable." This is because the frog's back has many different colors.
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What Does the Variable Robber Frog Look Like?
These frogs are quite small. Adult males are about 16 to 22 millimeters long. That's less than an inch! Adult females are a bit bigger. They measure about 22 to 27 millimeters from their snout to their rear end.
Head and Body Features
The frog's snout is pointed when you look from above. It slopes downwards when you look from the side. This frog has a round eardrum, called a tympanum. There's also a clear fold of skin above its eardrum.
Its finger and toe tips have special pads, like little discs. These help the frog grip surfaces. Its toes have small fringes and a little bit of webbing. The skin on its back is usually bumpy, like sandpaper. Sometimes, it can be smooth.
Colors and Patterns
The variable robber frog is famous for its many colors. Its main color can be cream, greenish-brown, red, brown, or yellow. On top of this, it has spots or stripes. These can be brown, greenish-brown, or reddish-brown. Sometimes, these patterns have yellow or yellow-green edges.
The sides of its body are lighter than its back. They often have brown or black spots or bars. The back of its thighs is usually dark gray-brown. But some frogs have reddish-brown thighs with gray-brown patterns.
Its belly is white or creamy white. It has small black or greenish-brown flecks or spots. The area around its groin is bright lemon-yellow with black edges. The frog's eye color is bronze. It has a reddish or bronze stripe across its eye. There's also a yellow or bronze-yellow spot below its eye. A dark brown or black stripe runs from its snout to its eye.
Where Do Variable Robber Frogs Live?
Pristimantis variabilis lives in different types of forests. You can find them in untouched forests and forests that have been regrown. They also live in areas that have been changed by humans. These frogs live at many different heights. They can be found from sea level up to over 2,000 meters high.
Daily Life and Reproduction
At night, these frogs are often found on low plants. During the day, they rest on the forest floor. Unlike many frogs, Pristimantis variabilis does not have a tadpole stage. The eggs hatch directly into tiny frogs. This is called "direct development."
Conservation Status
The variable robber frog seems to be common in many places where it lives. There are still large areas of good habitat for them. Scientists believe this frog is not currently facing big threats. It also lives in several protected areas.
