| Pristimantis altae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Strabomantidae |
| Genus: | Pristimantis |
| Species: | P. altae |
| Binomial name | |
| Pristimantis altae (Dunn, 1942) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Pristimantis altae, also known as mountain robber frog, [1] is a species of rain frog in the family Strabomantidae [2] with a bright coral-coloured groin. [3] It is found in Costa Rica and Panama. [1] [2]
The species and its defining holotype were first collected on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica below the highest reach of a mountain pass between Barva and Irazú at approximately 4000 feet (2860m), on a mountain slope in El Guarco, Cartago Province. [2] [3]
It was formerly known as Eleutherodactylus altae [1] [4] and was classified in the subgenus Eleutherodactylus by John D. Lynch in 1996. Hedges, Duellman and Heinicke classified it under subgenus Hypodictyon in 2008. [2] Savage (1980) classified it in the Eleutherodactylus cruentus group (which was considered a subset of the E. unistrigatus group). Lynch and Duellman (1997) considered it to be in the E. unistrigatus group of the Eleutherodactylus (Eleutherodactylus) martinicensis series. Savage (2002) placed it in the E. cruentatus group of his newly redefined E. martinicensis series. Hedges, Duellman, and Heinicke (2008) then placed it in the Pristimantis (Hypodictyon) ridens series. Padial, Grant, and Frost (2014) finally recommended not to attempt placing it in a species grouping. [2]
This is a small frog; the males measure to 23.5mm, while the females 27mm. The back is covered in tiny bumps and the colour of it can vary from dark grey to black, sometimes but not always with tiny white speckles. The stomach and lower surface is dark brown. The eye has a copper-coloured iris. [3]
This species is distinguished by its bright coral-coloured groin. This colour extends up the front of the thigh in the form of dots, and also on the rear thigh as dots in a slightly more reddish-orange colour. [3]
This frog is thought likely to not make a mating call. [3] It has a karyotype of 2n = 26. [3]
It occurs throughout the northern section of the Cordillera Central of Costa Rica at mid-altitudes, and throughout the eastern Caribbean seaboard of this country, on the slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca down to almost sea level, from near the Nicaraguan border southward to north-westernmost Panama in La Amistad International Park. [3] [1]
It was initially believed it to be endemic to Costa Rica. [4]
The habitats favoured by Pristimantis altae are tropical, humid, lowland and premontane forests and rainforests. [2] [1] It has been found at elevations of 60 [2] [1] to 1245m. [2] [3] [1] According to Savage (2002), himself citing earlier studies, this species hides during the day in bromeliads as well as amongst leaf litter on the forest floor, and is found moving actively on low vegetation during the night. [3] [1]
Although it is not confirmed in this species, it is thought to be a frog which lays its eggs directly on moist substrate on land, possibly on vegetation. It is thought to be a "direct developer", with the species skipping a tadpole stage, the eggs hatching directly into juvenile frogs. [1]
The only thing known about its diet is from Toft in 1981, who reported on dissecting a single individual to examine the stomach contents. These were said to be a few small arthropods. [3]
Pristimantis altae is considered threatened in Costa Rica. [4] The IUCN rated its population status to be "least concern". [1]
It is rarely seen, but often present. [1] According to the IUCN in 2004 it was threatened by habitat loss, [1] but in 2008 it stated that while the frog does not appear to adapt well to modified habitats, it is not believed to be threatened, as it continues to be present where it has historically been reported, is relatively abundant within its known range, and the majority of its known distribution is protected within well-managed reserves. [1]
It occurs in the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica at altitudes of 100 to 1200m. [4] In Costa Rica it is regularly encountered by herpetologists at the Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Reserve and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and occurs in Braulio Carrillo National Park. It occurs in La Amistad International Park in both Costa Rica and Panama. [1]
The blue-sided leaf frog, also known as the orange-eyed leaf frog, is an endangered species of tree frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae native to the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica and Panama. The specific name annae honors Ann S. Duellman, the collector of the holotype and the describer's wife.
Incilius melanochlorus, formerly Bufo melanochlorus, is a mid-sized species of toad with a crested head in the family Bufonidae. It is primarily distinguished by its very long first finger with respect to the other fingers. It is found in southern Nicaragua, in the northern Cordillera Central and on the Atlantic slopes of eastern Costa Rica, and in western Panama.
Isthmohyla calypsa is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is known from the southern Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica, Cerro Pando in Costa Rica and Panama, and the Pacific slope in southwestern Panama. It appears to now be extirpated from Costa Rica. Prior to its description in 1996, this species was confused with Isthmohyla lancasteri, a species now known from lower altitudes only.
Isthmohyla debilis is a rare species of frog in the family Hylidae. It occurs in the Atlantic slopes of the Cordillera Central and Cordillera Talamanca in Costa Rica and western Panama as well as on the Pacific slopes in southwestern Panama. Common name Isla Bonita treefrog has been suggested for it.
Craugastor andi is a species of rain frog in the family Craugastoridae which has not been seen since 1990. It is found in the Caribbean drainage of Costa Rica in the mountains and hills of the Cordillera Central and the far northeastern Cordillera de Talamanca, and in extreme northwestern Panama. Frank and Ramus (1995) give it the vernacular name Atlantic robber frog. It is known locally in Spanish by the generic names, used for many species, of rana de hojarasca, ranita or sapito.
Craugastor phasma is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to southeastern Costa Rica and only known from its type locality in the Las Tablas protected area in the Puntarenas Province, near the Panamanian border. Only a single individual—the holotype collected in 1992—has ever been observed. It is unusual in its ghost-like, gray-white coloration, and it was initially thought that the specimen was an albino form of some other species. However, the specimen is also morphologically distinct, although some uncertainty regarding the validity of this species remains.
Craugastor rugosus is a species of rain frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is found in Costa Rica and southwestern Panama, and possibly southern Nicaragua.
Pristimantis bearsei is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to Peru and only known from the region of its type locality northeast of Tarapoto in the San Martín Region. Common name Bearse's robber frog has been coined for this species.
Pristimantis caryophyllaceus is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama; records from Colombia prior to 2010 refer to Pristimantis educatoris. However, taxonomy of Pristimantis caryophyllaceus and P. educatoris remain unsettled, and many sources continue to report Pristimantis caryophyllaceus from Colombia.
Pristimantis ceuthospilus is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to northern Peru and occurs on the western slopes of the Cordillera de Huancabamba and the Pacific slope of the Cordillera Occidental. There are also as yet unconfirmed records from southern Ecuador. The specific name ceuthospilus, from Greek keuthos ("hidden") and spilos ("spot"), refers to the yellow spots in the groin and thighs that remain hidden when the frog is sitting. Common name Wild's robber frog has been coined for it.
Pristimantis lindae is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to Peru and only known from Kosñipata Valley on the northeastern slopes of the Cadena de Paucartambo, a frontal range of the Cordillera Oriental in Cusco Region. The specific name lindae honors Linda Trueb, an American herpetologist and wife of William E. Duellman, the species describer. Nevertheless, common name Santa Isabel robber frog has been coined for this species.
Pristimantis moro, also known as La Hondura robber frog, is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in lowland western Colombia, the Pacific versant of Panama, and the Atlantic versant of Costa Rica.
Pristimantis muscosus is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is only found on the Cordillera del Condor of southern Ecuador and northern Peru.
Pristimantis percnopterus is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in the Cordillera del Cóndor and northern Cordillera Central, Peru. Its natural habitat is humid and semi-arid montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss (deforestation).
Pristimantis pinguis is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to Peru where it is known from the region of its type locality in the Celendín Province as well as from the western slopes of the Cordillera Occidental in the Cajamarca Region. Its natural habitat is tropical high-altitude grassland at elevations of 3,000–3,916 m (9,843–12,848 ft) asl. This little-known species is potentially threatened by habitat loss caused by agricultural development.
Eleutherodactylus portoricensis is a frog native to Puerto Rico that belongs to the family Eleutherodactylidae. Its vernacular English names are upland coqui, mountain coqui, and Puerto Rican robber frog. The species’ range spans the Luquillo Mountains of northeastern Puerto Rico and the Cordillera Central, which forms the highland “backbone” of Puerto Rico and includes an eastern extension beginning at the city of Cayey. However, the species is likely extirpated from the western Cordillera Central.
Pristimantis quaquaversus is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found on the lower Amazonian slopes of the Andes from northern Ecuador south to the Cordillera de Cutucú and Cordillera del Cóndor as well as the adjacent northern Peru.
Pristimantis ridens, also known as the pygmy rain frog and the Rio San Juan robber frog, is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in western Colombia, and then through Panama and Costa Rica to Nicaragua and eastern Honduras.
Pristimantis salaputium is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to Peru and known from its type locality, the Río Cosñipata Valley, on the northeastern slopes of the Cadena de Paucartambo, a frontal range of the Cordillera Oriental in Cusco Region, and from the Apurímac River valley. Its range might extend into Bolivia. The specific name salaputium is Latin meaning "dwarf" and refers to the small size of this species. Common name river robber frog has been coined for it.
Pristimantis serendipitus is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in the Andes of northern Peru and adjacent southern Ecuador. The specific name refers to serendipitous discovery of this species: collection at the type locality was only made because the road was closed by an accident. Common name Colan Mountains robber frog has been proposed for this species.
