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Family: Strabomantidae
Mountain Robber Frog, more...Robber Frog (es: Ranita, Sapito)
[Eleutherodactylus altae Dunn, 1942] |
Adult: Species description based on Savage (2002). A small frog; males to 23.5 mm, females to 27 mm. Dorsal: Dorsal coloration ranges from dark grey to black. Some tiny white speckling may be present. The dorsal surface is covered in tiny bumps. Ventral: The ventral surface is dark brown. Distinguishing characteristics: The groin is bright coral-colored. The coloration extends onto the forward surface of the thigh in the form of spots, and some red-orange spots may be present on the rear surface of the thigh as well. Eye: The iris is copper-colored. Habitat: Lowland, premontane and montane rainforest to 1245 m. Ecology: Pristimantis altae inhabits bromeliads as well as leaf litter (Savage 2002). Call: This species probably does not call (Savage 2002). Karyotype: 2N = 26 (DeWeese 1976) Type locality: Atlantic slope of Costa Rica, on the pass between Barba and Irazu, below the divide and above the finca of Felix Delgado, approximately 4000 feet (Costa Rica) Diet: Scarce information is available regarding the diet of Pristimantis altae. Toft (1981) examined the stomach contents of a single individual and found a few small arthropods. Diagnostic description: The legs lacking webbing. Ll finger is longer than the l: lll-lV fingers have clearly expanded discs. The heel is smooth or with a few small tubers, similar to other scattered tubercles on the lower limb size. The groin and the anterior surface of the thigh has distinct rounded spots on a background of gray to black. The discs of the outer fingers are moderately large, smaller than the eardrum. Displays large bright points (red coral life) in the groin and occasionally in the anterior and posterior thigh regions. Adult males lack nuptial pads, but have vocal slits. The maximum standard length of males is 21 mm.; females are 27 mm Habitat: They perch on shrubs in primary forests. Found in a bromeliad of a fallen tree. Behavior: They are nocturnal and arboreal. Distribution in Costa Rica: In the lowlands and the middle Atlantic side of the Cordilleras de Guanacaste, Tilarán, northern Central Volcanic and Talamanca, between 60 and 1,240 m. Lift (Savage 2002). Distribution outside Costa Rica: Far Northwest Panama. |