Andean mountain cat (Leopardus jacobita)
The Andean cat is one of the rarest and least-known cats in the world. Learn more about the Andean cat and how your support can ensure its future for generations to come.
The Andean Mountain cat lives in isolated areas of the high Andes, from and up to over 13,000 ft. a.s.l in Argentina, and up to over 13,000 ft. in Peru
A head on view of the Andean Marsupial Tree Frog (Gastrotheca riobambae), one of the coolest frogs I have ever had the fortune of seeing. This frog gets its name from its interesting reproductive biology, as the male fertilizes the eggs he pushes them into a special pouch on the females back where they remain until they have hatched into tadpoles. The female will carry the tadpoles to standing water and deposit them there. Some species of tree frogs in South America carry their eggs around in pouches, most of these frogs will keep their young in the "pouch" until the young metamorphose into tiny froglets at which point they will release them. A smaller amount of species (about 11), this one included, will release the tadpoles into water once they have hatched. Apparently, the species that release the tadpoles are typically high dwelling montane species. I have read that this species (G. riobambae) usually has over 100 eggs in its back pouch until they hatch which takes up to 120 days. Species that wait until complete development can only carry a couple offspring. There are various advantages to the marsupial strategy, cold nights are common in the mountains and eggs of other species of frogs are vulnerable to cold snaps, dry conditions, not to mention predators. Also by the time the tadpoles are released they are fairly large which gives them an advantage as well.
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