''Gastrotheca pacchamama'' is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...

in the family

Hemiphractidae The Hemiphractidae are a family (biology), family of frogs from South America, South and Central America. Previously, this group had been classified as a subfamily (Hemiphractinae) under family Hylidae. More recent research classifies these gen ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

and only known from the

Ayacucho Region Ayacucho () is a department and region of Peru, located in the south-central Andes of the country. Its capital is the city of Ayacucho. The region was one of the hardest hit in the 1980s during the guerrilla war waged by Shining Path known as ...

in the Cordillera Oriental.

Etymology

The

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

refers to

Pachamama Pachamama is a goddess revered by the indigenous peoples of the Andes. In Inca mythology she is an " Earth Mother" type goddess, Dransart, Penny. (1992) "Pachamama: The Inka Earth Mother of the Long Sweeping Garment." ''Dress and Gender: Making ...

, a goddess of the indigenous people of the Andes. It is derived from

Quechuan Quechua (, ; ), usually called ("people's language") in Quechuan languages, is an indigenous language family spoken by the Quechua peoples, primarily living in the Peruvian Andes. Derived from a common ancestral language, it is the most widely ...

''paccha'' for "earth" and ''mama'' for "mother", and was chosen because some of the types were found under stones where travelers placed food, so as to ensure that Pachamama would grant them a safe journey. Common name Ayacucho marsupial frog has been coined for it.

Description

Males grow to a maximum size of and females to in

snout–vent length Snout–vent length (SVL) is a morphometric measurement taken in herpetology from the tip of the snout to the most posterior opening of the cloacal slit (vent)."direct line distance from tip of snout to posterior margin of vent" It is the most c ...

. The head is slightly wider than it is long. The snout is acutely rounded in dorsal view and rounded in profile. The tympanum is dark brown, red, green, or gray, covered by the supra-tympanic fold in its upper part. The fingers have no webbing and bear small discs, only slightly wider than the digits. The first three toes lack webbing whereas the remaining toes are basally webbed. The toe discs that are smaller than the finger discs. The dorsum is tan, red, gray, or green, and the majority of individuals have a darker inter-orbital bar. Many have para-vertebral longitudinal marks, and may also have further mid-dorsal marks or flecks/spots. The flanks are uniform pale gray. The ventrum is pale creamy tan, often with dark flecks.

Habitat and conservation

''Gastrotheca pacchamama'' is a terrestrial species occurring in puna grasslands at an elevation of about

asl American Sign Language (ASL) is a natural language that serves as the predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States of America and most of Anglophone Canada. ASL is a complete and organized visual language that is express ...

. The type series was found under rocks. Some males were calling during the day from moss-covered talus. ''Gastrotheca pacchamama'' is a poorly known species occurring in an isolated area. Threats to it are unknown but are believed to be insignificant, considering its known range. It is not known from any protected areas.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2209618 pacchamama Frogs of South America Amphibians of the Andes Amphibians of Peru Endemic fauna of Peru Taxa named by William Edward Duellman Amphibians described in 1987 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot