Steindachner's Dwarf Frog

About the Steindachner's Dwarf Frog

Physalaemus ephippifer is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is found in central and eastern Brazilian Amazonia, the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), and southern Venezuela (Bolívar state). It might not occur in French Guiana.

Physalaemus ephippifer measure 21.0 to 39.6 mm (0.83 to 1.56 in) in snout–vent length. The body is slightly elongated with a pointed snout. The tympanum is barely visible. The back is typically smooth but has warts in some specimens; there are few longitudinal ridges. The dorsal colouration is light to reddish brown, with a variable degree of greyish markings. There is a black stripe running from the tip of the snout to the eye, continuing as a black band on the flank. The ventral colour is creamy or yellowish. The legs are barred with dark brown and there are red or orange patches in the armpits and groin. The fingers and toes are unwebbed.

Physalaemus ephippifer is a nocturnal frog that spends much of the daytime buried in sand. It is a common, adaptable species that benefits from human disturbance. It is found at the edges of forests, in clearings, and in human-modified habitats. In Suriname... Wikipedia →