Andean marsupial tree frog
| Gastrotheca riobambae | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hemiphractidae |
| Genus: | Gastrotheca |
| Species: | G. riobambae |
| Binomial name | |
| Gastrotheca riobambae (Fowler, 1913)[2] | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Chorophilus olivaceus Andersson, 1945 | |
The Andean marsupial tree frog, Riobamba marsupial frog or Riobamba pouched frog (Gastrotheca riobambae; in Spanish: rana marsupial andina) is a species of frog in the Hemiphractidae family. It is endemic to Ecuador.[3] The species is confined to the Andes and the inter-Andean valleys, from Imbabura south to Chimborazo. They live in an altitude of 2,200-3,500 meters above sea-level. The Andean marsupial tree frog's habitat varies from the montane forests to the dry rocky hillsides, and from the agave plants to the corn fields. Once a common species, it is threatened by severe habitat loss.[1]
Snout–vent length of Gastrotheca riobambae is about 48 mm (1.9 in). It has a broad, depressed body. Skin is smooth above but granulated below.[2]
Within this genus, the males transfer the eggs from the female's cloaca to their dorsal pouch till they reach development at the tadpole stage. It takes approximately five to six weeks that the eggs stay in the female's pouch. Once they reach the stage as tadpoles, they continue their development in water, and go through metamorphosis in a few weeks time.[4]
Gastrotheca riobambae are sometimes kept as pets.[5]
References
- 1 2 Coloma, L.A., Ron, S. & Jungfer, K.-H. (2004). "Gastrotheca riobambae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- 1 2 Fowler, H. W. (1913). "Amphibians and reptiles from Ecuador, Venezuela, and Yucatan". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 65: 153–176.
- ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Gastrotheca riobambae (Fowler, 1913)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- ↑ del Pino, Eugenia M.; Maria L. Galarza; Carmen M. de Albuja; A. A. Humphries (1975). "The maternal pouch and development in the marsupial frog Gastrotheca riobambae (Fowler)". Biological Bulletin 149 (3): 480–491. JSTOR 1540381.
- ↑ "Gastrotheca riobambae". Caudata.org. Retrieved 5 April 2014.