Pristimantis variabilis
Pristimantis variabilis is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae.[2][4][5] It is found in the lowland Amazon rainforest and Andean slopes in southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and western Brazil[1][2][4][5] (Amphibian Species of the World includes Brazil only tentatively[2]). The specific name variabilis refers to the variable dorsal coloration of this frog.[3] Common name variable robber frog has been proposed for it.[2][4]
| Pristimantis variabilis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Craugastoridae |
| Genus: | Pristimantis |
| Subgenus: | Pristimantis (Pristimantis) |
| Species: | P. variabilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pristimantis variabilis (Lynch, 1968) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Eleutherodactylus variabilis Lynch, 1968[3] | |
Description
Adult males measure 16–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) and adult females 22–27 mm (0.9–1.1 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is acuminate in dorsal view and sloping in lateral profile. The tympanum is round and the supratympanic fold is well defined. The finger tips bear discs but no lateral fringes or webbing. The toe tips bear discs. The toes have poorly developed lateral fringes and slight webbing. Skin is dorsally shagreened, rarely smooth. The dorsum has variable coloration: the ground color can be cream, greenish brown, red, brown, or yellow, and there are brown, greenish brown, or reddish brown spots or stripes; these can be edged in yellow or yellow-green. The flanks are paler than the dorsum and marked with brown or black spots or bars. The posterior surface of thigh is usually dark gray-brown but is reddish-brown and reticulated with gray-brown in some individuals. The venter is white to creamy white and is flecked or spotted with black or greenish-brown. The groin is lemon-yellow edged with black. The iris is bronze with reddish or bronze horizontal stripe. The lip is bronze. There is also yellow or yellow-bronze spot below eye and dark brown or black canthalstripe.[3]
Habitat and conservation
Pristimantis variabilis occurs in primary and secondary forests and in disturbed areas[1] at elevations of 0–2,047 m (0–6,716 ft) above sea level.[4] It can be found on low vegetation at night and on the forest floor during the day. Development is direct[1] (i.e, there is no free-living larval stage[6]).
Pristimantis variabilis appears to be a common species over much of its range, and large areas of suitable habitat remain. It does not appear to face significant threats. It is present in a number of protected areas.[1]
References
- Castro, F.; Herrera, M.I.; Azevedo-Ramos, C.; Coloma, L.A.; Ron, S.; Rodríguez, L.; Monteza, J.I. & Martinez, J.L. (2004). "Pristimantis variabilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T57029A11571157. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- Frost, Darrel R. (2020). "Pristimantis variabilis (Lynch, 1968)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- Lynch, John D. (1968). "Two new frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus from eastern Ecuador (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)". Journal of Herpetology. 2 (3/4): 129–135. doi:10.2307/1563112. JSTOR 1563112.
- Frenkel, C.; et al. (2018). Ron, S. R.; Merino-Viteri, A. & Ortiz, D. A. (eds.). "Pristimantis variabilis". Anfibios del Ecuador. Version 2019.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- Acosta Galvis, A. R. (2020). "Pristimantis variabilis (Lynch, 1968)". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia: Referencia en linea V.10.2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- Vitt, Laurie J. & Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. p. 166.