''Colostethus jacobuspetersi'', commonly known as the Quito rocket frog, is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...

in the family

Dendrobatidae Poison dart frog (also known as dart-poison frog, poison frog or formerly known as poison arrow frog) is the common name of a group of frogs in the Family (biology), family Dendrobatidae which are native to tropical Central America, Central an ...

Body

The adult male frog measures 19.3–25.1 mm in snout-vent length and the adult female 22.3–29.5 mm. The skin of the dorsum is light brown with some green coloration and dark red-brown marks. There is a white line down each side of the body and another white line on the upper lip. The belly is pinkish orange in color with white spots or patterning. The throat and chest are light orange with white marks. The ventral surfaces of the legs and feet are light pink. The male frog's

testicles A testicle or testis ( testes) is the gonad in all male bilaterians, including humans, and is homologous to the ovary in females. Its primary functions are the production of sperm and the secretion of androgens, primarily testosterone. The ...

are white.

Etymology

Scientists named this frog for amphibian collector and explorer James Peters of the Smithsonian.

Habitat

This diurnal frog lives in highland forests and artificial open spaces. It has been sighted next to ditches and canals. It has been observed between 1500 and 3800 meters above sea level. Scientists are sure they saw the frog in 1990 in Cashca Totoras Protective Forest. The frog's former range included or came near

Reserva Ecológica Los Illinizas Reserve wine is wine of a higher quality than usual, a wine that has been aged before sale, or both. Traditionally, winemakers would reserve some of their best wine rather than sell it immediately, coining the term. In some countries the use of t ...

Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua (''Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve'') (''Cloud of Water Geobontanical Reserve'') is a protected area around Pululahua Volcano in the north of Quito Canton, Pichincha Province, Ecuador. It is 17 km north of Quito ...

, and Reserva de Producción Faunística Chimborazo.

Threats

The last formal sighting of this frog took place in 1990 in Cashca Totoras Protective Forest. In 2019, scientists heard the frog singing and saw tadpoles and young frogs. The IUCN classifies this frog as critically endangered. Habitat loss through

deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal and destruction of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. Ab ...

in favor of agriculture and human habitation are the principal threats. There is currently no forest left in the frog's former known range.

Chytridiomycosis Chytridiomycosis ( ) is an infectious disease in amphibians, caused by the chytrid fungi '' Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis'' and '' Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans''. Chytridiomycosis has been linked to dramatic population declines or extinc ...

has killed many other amphibians in the area and may also have killed many of these frogs. In 2015, the

volcano A volcano is commonly defined as a vent or fissure in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. On Earth, volcanoes are most oft ...

Volcan Cotopaxi became active again. This may also have killed these frogs.

References

jacobuspetersi Amphibians of Ecuador Amphibians of the Andes Endemic fauna of Ecuador Amphibians described in 1991 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Dendrobatidae-stub