Kingdom Animalia Class Amphibia Family Craugastoridae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Anura Genus Psychrophrynella | |
Similar Psychrophrynella, Bryophryne cophites, Bryophryne, Rhinella manu, Gastrotheca excubitor | ||
Psychrophrynella usurpator is a species of frog in the Craugastoridae family. It is endemic to the Cusco Region, Peru, and only known from near Abra Acjanacu, a mountain pass in the Cordillera de Paucartambo, the easternmost Andean range towards the Amazonian lowlands, at elevations of 3,270–3,539 m (10,728–11,611 ft) asl. It is named usurpator because these frogs were previously misidentified as Noblella peruviana—in a sense, they had "usurped" the name of another frog species.
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Description
Males measure 19.5–20.3 mm (0.77–0.80 in) and females 22.7–24.1 mm (0.89–0.95 in) in snout–vent length. Psychrophrynella usurpator is a moderately robust-bodied frog with moderately long legs, without tympanic membrane but with a tympanic annulus that is visible through the skin, and rounded snout. Dorsum is gray to brown with smooth skin.
Males have vocal sacks and slits and call in mid-afternoon. The call is a series of short, quickly repeated, moderately high notes.
Habitat and conservation
Psychrophrynella usurpator inhabit puna grasslands, also bordering agricultural land. They can be found under rocks in humid puna. It is common where it occurs but declining; it is considered "Endangered" because of its small range and threat posed by habitat loss. It is probably present in the Manú National Park.