Pristimantis vertebralis

Pristimantis vertebralis is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae.[2] It is endemic to the Andes of Ecuador and occurs in the Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Bolívar, and Azuay provinces.[3] Common name vertebral robber frog has been coined for it.[2]

Pristimantis vertebralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Craugastoridae
Genus: Pristimantis
Subgenus: Pristimantis
Species:
P. vertebralis
Binomial name
Pristimantis vertebralis
(Boulenger, 1886)
Synonyms[2]

Hylodes vertebralis Boulenger, 1886
Eleutherodactylus vertebralis (Boulenger, 1886)

Description

Adult males measure 21–28 mm (0.8–1.1 in) and adult females 35–44 mm (1.4–1.7 in) in snout–vent length; [3][4] Lynch (1979) gives somewhat higher maximum sizes (34 mm and 45 mm, respectively).[5] The snout is subacuminate in dorsal view and rounded in profile. The tympanum is prominent. The upper eyelid has low tubercles. The fingers have narrow lateral keels and the toes lateral fringes but no webbing. The finger discs are large, those of the toes somewhat smaller. Coloration is highly variable. In one population, the dorsum was bronze-brown to reddish brown, and in another one, green, brick-red, brown, olive-brown, or yellowish brown; most individuals had black flecks. The venter is creamy yellow (sometimes with orange tint), with brown or black marbling. The iris is copper or nearly black.[3][4]

Habitat and conservation

Pristimantis vertebralis occurs in cloud forests and in humid and temperate montane forests at elevations of 1,800–3,000 m (5,900–9,800 ft) above sea level. It has been found near streams and in bromeliads. Development is direct, without free-living tadpole stage.[1][3]

Pristimantis vertebralis is rare in most parts of its range.[1][3] It is threatened by habitat degradation caused by smallholder agricultural activities and subsistence wood collection. It might also be threatened by chytridiomycosis. Its range overlaps with the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve and Los Illinizas Ecological Reserve.[1]

gollark: * 2080 Ti
gollark: Not necessarily 600 series. Indeed.
gollark: Yes. Various ones.
gollark: Q3.
gollark: It's literally the best thing ever and will fix all problems! ¡

References
  1. Coloma, L.A.; Ron, S.; Almeida, D. & Yánez-Muñoz, M. (2004). "Pristimantis vertebralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T57040A11573191. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T57040A11573191.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Pristimantis vertebralis (Boulenger, 1886)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  3. Frenkel, Caty; et al. (2013–2015). Ron, S. R.; Yanez-Muñoz, M. H.; Merino-Viteri, A.; Ortiz, D. A. (eds.). "Pristimantis vertebralis". AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2018.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  4. Lynch, J. D. & Duellman, W. E. (1997). "Frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus in western Ecuador. Systematics, ecology, and biogeography". Special Publication, Natural History Museum, University of Kansas. 23: 1–236.
  5. Lynch, John D. (1979). "The identity of Eleutherodactylus vertebralis (Boulenger) with the description of a new species from Colombia and Ecuador (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)". Journal of Herpetology. 13 (4): 411–418. doi:10.2307/1563475. JSTOR 1563475.
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