Amphibian
Amphibian
Urich's Robber Frog
Pristimantis urichi
Urich's Robber Frog is a small, forest-floor frog of Trinidad's Northern Range, part of a large group of direct-developing frogs that skip the tadpole stage entirely, hatching from terrestrial eggs as fully formed miniature froglets.
Urich's Robber Frog is a small, forest-floor frog of Trinidad's Northern Range, part of a large group of direct-developing frogs that skip the tadpole stage entirely, hatching from terrestrial eggs as fully formed miniature froglets.
Identification
A small frog around 2 to 3 cm long, with variable brown, tan, or grey mottled colouration providing camouflage against leaf litter, and no webbing between the toes. Like other members of its large genus, it has expanded toe discs for climbing low vegetation despite spending much of its time on the ground.
Behaviour
Forages on the forest floor and in low vegetation at night for small invertebrates, and calls with a short, sharp note from leaf litter or low perches. Unlike most Trinidad frogs, it does not require standing water to breed: eggs are laid in moist leaf litter and develop directly into miniature frogs, entirely skipping the free-swimming tadpole stage typical of most amphibians.
Status in T&T
Found in the leaf litter of mature and secondary forest in Trinidad's Northern Range. Not considered threatened, though dependent on moist forest floor conditions. It is protected as native wildlife under the Conservation of Wildlife Act.
Threats
- Loss of moist forest floor habitat and leaf litter
