Pristimantis scopaeus is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to Colombia and occurs in the Cordillera Central in the Tolima[1][3][4] and Quindío Departments.[4] Pristimantis scopaeus is a dwarf species: adult males in the type series were first mistaken for juveniles of Pristimantis simoteriscus, which itself already is a small species.[2] The specific name scopaeus[2] is Latinization of the Greek skopaios, meaning "dwarf".[5]
| Pristimantis scopaeus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Strabomantidae |
| Genus: | Pristimantis |
| Subgenus: | Pristimantis |
| Species: | P. scopaeus
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| Binomial name | |
| Pristimantis scopaeus | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Description
editAdult males measure 15.3 to 16.7 mm (0.60 to 0.66 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is subacuminate in dorsal view. No tympanum is visible. Skin of the dorsum is nearly smooth. The dorso-lateral folds are ill-defined. The flanks and venter are coarsely areolate. The fingers have lateral keels and small discs as well as ventral pads. The toes have no webbing, lateral keels, nor discs but have ventral pads. In preserved specimens, the dorsum is brown, with most specimens having slightly darker mottling. The canthal–supra-tympanic stripe is dark brown, and labial bar runs just in front of eye. A living specimen was pale brown with black dorso-lateral spots, black heels and elbows, and with dark brown transverse line on thighs and shanks.[2]
Habitat and conservation
editPristimantis scopaeus usually occurs in sub-páramo and páramo habitats at elevations of 3,400–3,680 m (11,200–12,100 ft) above sea level[4] but has also been recorded from pastureland. It is a species that is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture activities and cattle grazing, in particular burning of the habitat to facilitate growth of grasses. It is not known to occur in any protected areas.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2019). "Pristimantis scopaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T56959A85882581. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T56959A85882581.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Lynch, J. D.; Ruíz-Carranza, P. M. & Ardila-Robayo, M. C. (1996). "Three new species of Eleutherodactylus (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae) from high elevations of the Cordillera Central of Colombia". Caldasia. 18 (3): 329–342.
- ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2022). "Pristimantis scopaeus (Lynch, Ruiz-Carranza, and Ardila-Robayo, 1996)". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Acosta Galvis, A. R. & Cuentas, D. (2017). "Pristimantis scopaeus (Lynch, Ruiz & Ardila, 1996)". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.07.2017.0. www.batrachia.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Ailuronyx tachyscopaeus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 February 2018.