ootamatus

Ootamatus is a fictional genus of small arboreal frogs described in a collaborative world-building project. It is placed in the family Ootamatidae and is monotypic, containing the species Ootamatus otiformis. The name combines a local-language element, oota, meaning leaf, with a Latin suffix -matus to indicate tree-dwelling habit.

Ootamatus otiformis measures 1.6–2.3 cm in snout-vent length. Dorsal coloration is olive-brown with a subtle dorsal stripe; ventral surfaces are pale yellow. Limbs are slender; toe disks are rounded; skin is smooth with occasional tubercles. The species is nocturnal and primarily arboreal, often found on trunks and in bromeliads in tropical forests.

Endemic to the Oota Archipelago in the equatorial belt, it is recorded at elevations of 200–900 m. It inhabits moist primary forests and selectively logged habitats, favoring humid microhabitats such as leaf litter, epiphytic bromeliads, and mossy trunks. The climate is warm and wet with regular precipitation.

Diet consists of small invertebrates. It is nocturnal, with males calling at dusk in dense vegetation. Reproduction involves eggs laid in leaf axils; development is direct, with miniature frogs emerging instead of free-swimming tadpoles.

Conservation assessments in the fictional universe list Ootamatus otiformis as Vulnerable, due to habitat loss and invasive species. Major threats include deforestation, fragmentation, and climate change. Conservation measures proposed in-world include habitat protection, restoration, and monitoring programs.

Discovery and naming: The genus and species were first described in 2042 by the fictional herpetologist Lin Kuro, in the monograph Archipelago Amphibians. The name and biology are used in world-building materials illustrating island endemism and evolutionary radiation.