Andean marsupial tree frog
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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
  • Gastrotheca marsupiata ssp. ecuatoriensis Vellard, 1957
  • Hyla quitoe Fowler, 1913

The Andean marsupial tree frog (Gastrotheca riobambae), also known as the Riobamba marsupial frog or Riobamba pouched frog, is a species of frog in the family Hemiphractidae. 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. 1 2 Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Karl-Heinz Jungfer (2004). "Gastrotheca riobambae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T55357A11298345. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T55357A11298345.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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. doi:10.2307/1540381. JSTOR 1540381. PMID 29324196.
  5. ↑ "Gastrotheca riobambae". Caudata.org. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
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