Niceforo's marsupial frog
{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =
| status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Gastrotheca nicefori
| authority = Gaige, 1933
| synonyms = Gastrotheca medemi Cochran and Goin, 1970
Gastrotheca yacambuensis Yústiz, 1976
}}
Gastrotheca nicefori (common name: Niceforo's marsupial frog) is a species of frog in the family Hemiphractidae. It is found in the Andes of Colombia (the three cordilleras: Cordillera Occidental, Cordillera Central, and Cordillera Oriental), on the Andean slopes of northern Venezuela, and in the highlands of eastern and central Panama.
Etymology
The specific name nicefori honors {{interlanguage link multi|Hermano Nicéforo María|fr|lt=Brother Nicéforo María}}, a priest and naturalist of French origin.
Description
Adult males grow to {{convert|73|mm|abbr=on}} and females to {{convert|82|mm|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length. The dorsum is light brown, with the sides being darker than the upper surface. Its coloration may get lighter during the day. The ventrum is light grey or greyish brown. The finger and toe discs are relatively large. The fingers and toes and lightly webbed.
The male advertisement call consists of a number of chicken-like "clucks". The female carries the eggs in a pouch on her back. The development is direct.
Habitat and conservation
Its natural habitats are lowland forests and montane cloud forests at elevations of {{convert|400|–|2400|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. It can also survive in disturbed cloud forest. It is an arboreal species living in forest canopy.
It is an abundant species that can be locally threatened by pollution from the spraying of illegal crops. It occurs in several protected areas through its range.
References
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Category:Amphibians of the Andes
Category:Amphibians of Colombia
Category:Amphibians of Venezuela
Category:Taxa named by Helen Thompson Gaige