| Hyloxalus vertebralis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Dendrobatidae |
| Genus: | Hyloxalus |
| Species: | H. vertebralis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hyloxalus vertebralis (Boulenger, 1899) | |
| Synonyms | |
Colostethus vertebralis(Boulenger, 1899) | |
Hyloxalus vertebralis is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae. It is endemic to southern Ecuador and occurs in the inter-Andean valleys and on the western slopes of the Andes. [2] [3] [4]
The adult male frog measures 14.1–17.5 mm in snout-vent length and the adult female frog 17–20.2 long. This frog has ventral marks that are darker in the male than in the female. The testicles are white in color. [3]
This frog lives in cloud forests in valleys high in the Andes mountains. It also lives in open areas where livestock graze, in parks, and in human-made gardens. This frog is always observed near puddles or streams. The frogs perch on plants .3 to 3 meters above the ground. This frog has been observed between 1770 and 3500 meters above sea level. [4] [2] [3]
The frog's known range includes several protected parks, for example Parque Nacional Cajas, Parque Nacional Río Negro Sopladora, Páramo, Matorral Interandino, Bosque Montano Oriental, and Bosque Montano Occidental. [4] [3]
The female frog lays eggs on the ground. The male frog carries the tadpoles on his back to streams. [4] [3]
The IUCN classifies this frog as vulnerable to extinction. During the 1990s, this frog, like many other amphibians in the area, suffered a massive die-off. Scientists believe this could be attributable to the fungal disease chytridiomycosis, but this has not been definitively confirmed. [4]
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