Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

244
Threatened Amphibians of the World
VU Duellmanohyla schmidtorum (Stuart, 1954)
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Hylidae
Country Distribution: Guatemala, Mexico
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Hylid Frogs of Middle America, 2001,
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Geographic Range This species is known from extreme eastern Oaxaca (Chimalapas) and extreme south-western
Chiapas, Mexico, and adjacent Guatemala.
Population It is not very common.
Habitat and Ecology This species only inhabits montane cloud forest from moderate to high elevations in almost
pristine environments. It is presumed to breed in streams.
Major Threats The major threat is habitat loss due to deforestation and infrastructure development. However,
chytridiomycosis is also a potential threat.
Conservation Measures The range of this species includes Reserva de la Biósfera El Triunfo. There is a need for
close population monitoring, particularly if chytrid is shown to represent a genuine threat. This species is protected
by Mexican law under the “Special Protection” category (Pr).
Bibliography: Campbell, J.A. (2001), Campbell, J.A. and Smith, E.N. (1992), Duellman, W.E. (2001)
Data Providers: Georgina Santos-Barrera, Antonio Muñoz Alonso
CR Duellmanohyla soralia (Wilson and McCranie, 1985)
Critically Endangered B2ab(iii,v)
Order, Family: Anura, Hylidae
Country Distribution: Guatemala, Honduras
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Franklin E. Castañeda
Geographic Range This species occurs in Sierra de Omoa and Espiritu Santo in north-western Honduras and northeastern
Guatemala, between 40 and 1,570m asl.
Population Formerly, it was moderately common in appropriate habitat. Currently, though, the population is declining
throughout its range.
Habitat and Ecology It is found on low vegetation along streams in lowland moist forest, and premontane and
lower montane wet forest. Breeding and larval development take place in streams.
Major Threats The main threats to the species are habitat loss due to agriculture (for uses such as pasture) and
wood extraction, and water pollution. Chytridiomycosis is also a potential threat.
Conservation Measures In Honduras, it is known to occur in Parque Nacional Cusuco and in the Parque Nacional
Cerro Azul, both formally protected since 1987. Surveys are required to monitor the population status and trends of
this species, particularly given the potential threat of chytridiomycosis.
Bibliography: Campbell, J.A. and Smith, E.N. (1992), McCranie, J.R. and Wilson, L.D. (2002b), Wilson, L.D. and McCranie, J.R. (1985)
Data Providers: Gustavo Cruz, Manuel Acevedo, Larry David Wilson
CR Duellmanohyla uranochroa (Cope, 1875)
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Hylidae
Country Distribution: Costa Rica, Panama
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Brian Kubicki
Geographic Range This species is known from the cordilleras of Costa Rica and western Panama (300-1,450m asl).
In Costa Rica, the species occurs on the Atlantic versant at 656-1,740m asl and on the Pacific slope at 880-1,600m
asl (Savage 2002).
Population It was formerly common but has disappeared from its entire Costa Rican range except for a remnant
population at Monteverde where it has declined substantially since the late 1980s. It is now infrequently seen in
Costa Rica, and it is presumed to have declined in Panama.
Habitat and Ecology It inhabits humid lowland and montane forest. Adults are usually found in the proximity of
streams. During the day, individuals hide in vegetation, especially in leaf axils of epiphytes and terrestrial aroids. At
night, moderately dense congregations have been found along small, fast-flowing streams. Males call from dense
vegetation several metres away from the streams, from 0.5-3.0m above ground. Larvae develop in quiet pools, but
sometimes adhere to large rocks in the stream bottom when the streams rise following heavy rains (Savage 2002).
Major Threats Museum specimens have been found to be infected with chytrid fungi, and although it requires
confi rmation, it is likely that infection with this pathogen, perhaps in combination with climate change, is responsible
for the current population decline. Habitat loss due to smallholder farming activities is also a threat to this species.
Conservation Measures Although there are no specific conservation measures in place, this species has been
recorded from at least three protected areas in Panama, and more than three protected areas in Costa Rica. Further
survey work is required to monitor the population status and trends of this species, and to ascertain clearly whether
or not chytrid poses a threat or not. A captive-breeding programme might need to be established.
Bibliography: Duellman, W.E. (2001), Ibáñez, R. et al. (2000), Savage, J.M. (1968a), Savage, J.M. (2002), Young, B. et al. (1999)
Data Providers: Alan Pounds, Gerardo Chaves, Frank Solís, Roberto Ibáñez, Jay Savage, César Jaramillo, Querube Fuenmayor
CR Ecnomiohyla echinata (Duellman, 1962)
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Hylidae
Country Distribution: Mexico
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is known only from the type locality
at around 2,000m asl on the northern slopes of the Sierra de Juárez, in
the vicinity of Vista Hermosa town, north-central Oaxaca, Mexico.
Population This has always been a rare species, but it appears
to have gone into serious decline, and has not seen recorded since
1962. Recent surveys to locate it have been unsuccessful, and it
might now be extinct.
Habitat and Ecology This species is restricted to cloud forest, and is
highly dependent on humid habitats and in particular, the vegetation
along low streams as well as epiphytic plants that serve as a refuge.
It is a stream-breeding species.
Major Threats This species has disappeared in suitable habitat,
probably due to chytridiomycosis. The disappearance or disturbance
of the unique cloud forest environment, primarily through selective
logging, at Sierra de Juárez is also a serious threat to the survival
of this species as well as many other amphibians, especially those
associated with humid habitats.
Conservation Measures This species is not known to occur in any protected areas, and urgent protection of the cloud
forest areas in Sierra de Juárez is recommended. A survey to determine whether or not this species is still extant in
the wild is also required. It is protected by Mexican law under the “Special Protection” category (Pr).
Notes on taxonomy: This species was previously included in the genus Hyla but has recently been moved to the new genus Ecnomiohyla
(Faivovich et al. 2005).
Bibliography: Duellman, W.E. (2001), Faivovich, J. et al. (2005), Lips, K.R. et al. (2004)
Data Providers: Georgina Santos-Barrera, Luis Canseco-Márquez