Pristimantis zophus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pristimantis zophus |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Strabomantidae |
| Genus: | Pristimantis |
| Subgenus: | Pristimantis |
| Species: |
P. zophus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pristimantis zophus (Lynch and Ardila-Robayo, 1999)
|
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The Pristimantis zophus is a type of frog that belongs to the Strabomantidae family. This frog is found only in Colombia. It lives on the eastern slopes of the northern Central Mountain Range in the Antioquia Department.
The name zophus comes from an ancient Greek word meaning "darkness" or "gloom." This name fits the frog well because it has a dull, dark color. It also becomes active after the sun goes down, just like darkness arrives.
What Does the Pristimantis zophus Look Like?
These frogs are quite small. Adult male frogs are about 14 to 17 millimeters (about 0.5 to 0.7 inches) long. Female frogs are a bit bigger, measuring about 16 to 20 millimeters (about 0.6 to 0.8 inches) long. This measurement is taken from the tip of their nose to the end of their body.
A male frog's head is usually as wide as its body. However, a female frog's head is often narrower than her body. The front part of the male's nose looks a bit pointed when you look down from above. The female's nose is more rounded.
The frog has a round eardrum, called a tympanum. Its fingers and toes have special pads, or discs, that help it grip surfaces. They also have small ridges on the sides, but they do not have webbing between their toes. The frog's skin feels smooth. Most of these frogs are brown with darker marks. Some can also be a light cream-gray color. Their eyes have a special pattern, like a net, with black lines. The top part of their eye can be very pale green or a light brassy color, with a red line across it. The bottom part is gray.
Where Does the Pristimantis zophus Live and How Is It Protected?
The Pristimantis zophus frog lives near streams in forests. It can be found in both untouched forests and forests that have grown back. It also lives on the edges of forests. You might even spot it in coffee farms or along the sides of roads. These frogs live at high elevations, from about 2,030 to 2,800 meters (about 6,660 to 9,186 feet) above sea level.
This frog is a night animal, meaning it is active after dark. You can usually find it sitting on plants that are very close to the ground, no more than 1 meter (about 3 feet) high. Unlike many frogs, the Pristimantis zophus does not have a tadpole stage. Instead, the young frogs develop directly inside the egg and hatch as tiny frogs.
The Pristimantis zophus is common in the areas where it lives, even though its home range is quite small. However, its habitat is at risk from human activities. These include farming, raising livestock, mining, and growing illegal crops. Luckily, this frog has been found in a protected area called the Distrito de Manejo Integrado Cuchilla Jardin Tamesis. This helps to keep its home safe.
 | Misty Copeland |
 | Raven Wilkinson |
 | Debra Austin |
 | Aesha Ash |
