Pristimantis subsigillatus explained

Pristimantis subsigillatus is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in the lowlands in south-western Colombia (western flank of the Colombian Massif^[1]) and western Ecuador (west of the Andes^[2]) up to elevations of 1162m (3,812feet) asl. It is sometimes known as Salidero robber frog (after its type locality) or engraved rainfrog.^[3]

Description

Male Pristimantis subsigillatus grow to a snout–vent length of 19mm29mm and females to 30mm33mm. Skin of dorsum is smooth or very finely shagreened. Colour varies from pale green to light reddish brown. Ventral surfaces are white to pale yellow with brown flecks.^[4]

Habitat and conservation

Pristimantis subsigillatus is an arboreal frog found in tropical moist lowland forests, often near streams and rivers. It is usually encountered at night on medium to high bushes and in arboreal bromeliads. During the day, it shelters in bromeliad axils.

While locally common, the arboreal lifestyle (up to 10 meters above ground) of this frog makes it difficult to find.^[2] It may be more easily heard than seen. The call is a single, sharp, explosive "tweet".^[5]

Pristimantis subsigillatus is potentially threatened by habitat loss and pollution.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pristimantis subsigillatus (Boulenger, 1902) . Acosta-Galvis, A.R. . 2014 . Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.04.2014 . www.batrachia.com . 16 December 2014.
2. Web site: Pristimantis subsigillatus (Boulenger, 1902) . Mario H. Yánez-Muñoz . Santiago R. Ron . amp . 2014 . AmphibiaWebEcuador . Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ) . 16 December 2014. (includes photographs)
3. Web site: Pristimantis subsigillatus (Boulenger, 1902) . Frost, Darrel R. . 2022 . Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1 . American Museum of Natural History . 2 November 2022.
4. Lynch . J. D. . 1980 . Systematic status and distribution of some poorly known frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus from the Chocoan lowlands of South America . Herpetologica . 36 . 2 . 175–189 . 3891484.
5. Lynch . J. D. . Duellman . W. E. . 1997 . Frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus in western Ecuador. Systematics, ecology, and biogeography . Special Publication, Natural History Museum, University of Kansas . Special publication / University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History . 23 . 1–236 . 10.5962/bhl.title.7951. 9780893380540 . free . 1808/24959 . free .