Leucostethus fugax, also known as Pastaza rocket frog, is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae. It is endemic to the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental, southern Ecuador.[1][2][3][4] Although originally only known from the valley of Pastaza River, it is now known to be more widespread. Its known range extends close to the Peruvian border and its true range may include Peru.[1]
| Leucostethus fugax | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Dendrobatidae |
| Genus: | Leucostethus |
| Species: | L. fugax
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| Binomial name | |
| Leucostethus fugax | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
editAdult males measure 17.9–19.5 mm (0.7–0.8 in) and adult females 19.3–20.1 mm (0.8–0.8 in) in snout–vent length. Toes have basal webbing. An oblique lateral stripe is present and reaches the eye. The venter is immaculate cream.[3][5] Adult males have a conspicuously swollen third[3][5] or fourth finger.[6]
Etymology
editScientists gave this frog the Latin name fugax for "fugitive" because of the way the frog would jump from their hands, especially those of scientist Juan A. Rivero.[4]
Reproduction
editScientists have not reported any observations of the female frog laying eggs, but they infer that the tadpoles swim in streams like their congeners.[1]
Habitat and conservation
editLeucostethus fugax inhabits moist forests in a transition zone between humid tropical forest and very humid premontane forest at elevations of 210–700 m (690–2,300 ft) above sea level. It can occur in both secondary and primary forest. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture and logging.[1] It is present in the Podocarpus National Park.[3] Its range overlaps with El Quimi Biological Reserve, although it has not been recorded there.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2023). "Leucostethus fugax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T55085A98644755. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T55085A98644755.en. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2024). "Leucostethus fugax (Morales and Schulte, 1993)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.2. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ortiz, D.A.; et al. (2022). Ron, S. R.; Merino-Viteri, A. & Ortiz, D. A. (eds.). "Leucostethus fugax". Anfibios del Ecuador. Version 2022.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ a b Diego A. Ortiz; Luis A. Coloma; Caty Frenkel (October 14, 2017). Santiago R. Ron (ed.). "Leucostethus fugax (Morales & Schulte, 1993)". AmphibiaWeb (in Spanish). University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Coloma, L. A. (1995). "Ecuadorian frogs of the genus Colostethus (Anura: Dendrobatidae)". Miscellaneous Publication, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas. 87: 1–72. (Colostethus fugax: p. 31)
- ^ Grant, Taran & Bolívar-García, Wilmar (2021). "A new species of Leucostethus (Anura, Dendrobatidae) from Gorgona Island, Colombia". ZooKeys (1057): 185–208. Bibcode:2021ZooK.1057..185G. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1057.67621. PMC 8417023. PMID 34552372.