Pristimantis veletis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis veletis |
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| Pristimantis veletis is only known from Samaná and Pensilvania municipalities in the Cordillera Central of Colombia. | |
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The Pristimantis veletis is a type of frog. It belongs to the Strabomantidae family. This frog lives only in Colombia. It has only been found in a small area. This area is near the towns of Samaná and Pensilvania. These towns are in the Caldas Department of Colombia. They are on the eastern side of the Central Mountain Range.
The name veletis comes from a Latin word. It means "skirmisher." This name was chosen because the frog's colors look like camouflage. It also has a chin pattern that looks a bit like military symbols.
What Does This Frog Look Like?
Adult male Pristimantis veletis frogs are about 26 to 28 millimeters long. This is about 1 inch. Adult females are a bit bigger. They measure about 32 to 37 millimeters long. This is about 1.2 to 1.5 inches. We measure their length from their nose to their bottom.
The frog's head is as wide as its body. It is also longer than it is wide. Its nose is long and pointed when you look from above. From the side, it looks rounded. The eardrum is easy to see and is round. There is a small ridge behind the eardrum.
The frog's fingers and toes are long and thin. They have small ridges along the sides. The tips of their fingers and toes have flat, round pads. The pads on their toes are smaller than the ones on their fingers. The skin on their back is smooth. The back of the frog is light brown or yellowish. It has dark brown or almost black marks. The frog's belly is brown. It has fine cream-colored spots or dark gray patterns.
Where Does This Frog Live?
Pristimantis veletis lives in cloud forests. These forests are high up in the mountains. They are found at heights of 1,800 to 2,400 meters (about 5,900 to 7,900 feet) above sea level. This frog is nocturnal. This means it is active at night.
You can often find these frogs sitting on plants. They like to be near streams. During the day, they hide in the leaves on the forest floor.
Life Cycle
These frogs have a special way of growing. They have "direct development." This means they do not have a tadpole stage. Instead, the eggs hatch directly into tiny frogs. The female frog lays up to 18 eggs. She lays them in moss.
Protecting This Frog
The Pristimantis veletis is a very rare frog. Scientists have been looking for it since 2013. They have only found one frog in annual searches. This frog is in danger because its home is disappearing. People are cutting down trees for wood. They are also planting pine trees. Farms are also taking over the forest land.
However, there is good news. This frog lives in the Selva de Florencia National Natural Park. This is a protected area. This park helps keep the frog's home safe.
