Kingdom Animalia Order Anura Genus Pristimantis Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Family Craugastoridae Higher classification Eleutherodactylus People also search for Pristimantis leoni | |
Scientific name Eleutherodactylus ocreatus | ||
Pristimantis ocreatus is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to extreme northern Ecuador. Its type locality is the west slope of volcano Chiles in the Carchi Province and it is only known from the Páramos del Angel and Chamizo at elevations of 3,000–4,150 m (9,840–13,620 ft) asl. It range might extend to adjacent Colombia. Common name Carchi robber frog has been coined for this species. They have pale hands and feet, as if wearing gloves and socks—hence the specific name ocreatus, which is Latin and means "wearing leggings" or "booted".
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Description
Pristimantis ocreatus is a small species: based on four males and two females, males measure 12–17 mm (0.47–0.67 in) and females 20 mm (0.79 in) in snout–vent length. Dorsum and upper flanks are dark brown. Some individuals have a reddish-brown mid-dorsal stripe or broad dorsal band. Most individuals have pale orange spots along dorsolateral folds. Flanks and venter are black with white spots. Hands and feet are white (except for outer edges). Iris is blue-gray. Skin of dorsum bears low ridges and finely areolate, subconical warts on the flanks.
Habitat and conservation
Natural habitats of Pristimantis ocreatus are sub-páramo and páramo habitats, but it can also occur in secondary forest. It is a fossorial species. The type series was collected under rocks and clumps of dirt by day. In Páramos del Angel it shares its habitat with the larger Pristimantis curtipes and Pristimantis thymelensis.
It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture and wood extraction. Burning in 2002-2003 may have extirpated this species from Páramos del Angel.