Variable Rain Frog

About the Variable Rain Frog

Pristimantis variabilis is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in the lowland Amazon rainforest and Andean slopes in southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and western Brazil (Amphibian Species of the World includes Brazil only tentatively). The specific name variabilis refers to the variable dorsal coloration of this frog. Common name variable robber frog has been proposed for it.

Adult males measure 16–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) and adult females 22–27 mm (0.9–1.1 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is acuminate in dorsal view and sloping in lateral profile. The tympanum is round and the supratympanic fold is well defined. The finger tips bear discs but no lateral fringes or webbing. The toe tips bear discs. The toes have poorly developed lateral fringes and slight webbing. Skin is dorsally shagreened, rarely smooth. The dorsum has variable coloration: the ground color can be cream, greenish brown, red, brown, or yellow, and there are brown, greenish brown, or reddish brown spots or stripes; these can be edged in yellow or yellow-green. The flanks are paler than the dorsum and marked with brown or black spots or bars. The posterior surface... Wikipedia →