Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

162
Threatened Amphibians of the World
CR Atelopus boulengeri Peracca, 1904
Critically Endangered A3ce
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Ecuador
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Ted Kahn
Geographic Range This species is known from six localities in the provinces of Morona-Santiago and Loja, in the
south-eastern versant of the Cordillera Oriental, the Cordillera de Cutucú, and the Cordillera del Cóndor, in eastern
Ecuador. It has been recorded from 800-2,000m asl.
Population It is a rare species, and there have been no records since 1984, although some localities at which the
species is known to occur have not been well surveyed. It is not known precisely whether or not populations have
declined as observed in other Atelopus in the Ecuadorian Andes, though this seems likely.
Habitat and Ecology This species is an inhabitant of humid montane forest. There is no specifi c information
known about breeding habits, though it is likely to be similar to other Atelopus species, with breeding taking place
in streams.
Major Threats Agriculture, as well as mining and infrastructure development for human settlement, are major threats
to the species’ habitat, and much of the natural vegetation within its known distribution area has been cleared. Pollution
of streams is also a threat. It is almost certainly at severe risk from chytridiomycosis.
Conservation Measures The distribution range of this species overlaps with Parque Nacional Sangay, which is a
World Heritage Site. Surveys are urgently needed to determine whether or not this species still persists within its
natural range. Given the threat of chytridiomycosis, successful conservation measures will probably need to include
the maintenance of any surviving individuals in captivity.
Bibliography: Duellman, W.E. and Lynch, J.D. (1988), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996), Peracca, M.G. (1904), Peters, J.A.
(1973), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006)
Data Providers: Santiago Ron, Luis A. Coloma, Martín R. Bustamante, Diego Cisneros-Heredia, Ana Almandáriz, Manuel Morales
CR Atelopus carauta Ruíz-Carranza and Hernández-Camacho, 1978
RIO CARAUTA STUBFOOT TOAD
Critically Endangered A3ce
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is known from two localities: the
type locality of Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquideas, and from
Murri in La Blanquita, both in Antioquia Department, in north-western
Colombia, between 1,300 and 2,000m asl.
Population It is uncommon. There do not appear to be any confirmed
records since 1973, but it is not known if this is indicative of a decline,
or simply a lack of survey effort.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs on vegetation alongside streams
in sub-Andean forests. It has not been recorded outside forest. Its
breeding habits are not known, though breeding is likely to take
place in streams.
Major Threats The major threat is likely to be chytridiomycosis,
leading to a catastrophic population decline, as has occurred in many
other montane species of Atelopus. Forest destruction for the creation
of fruit plantations is occurring within the species’ range.
Conservation Measures The type locality is within Parque Nacional
Natural Las Orquideas. More research into the species’ distribution range, ecological requirements, and population
status is needed, in particular to determine if it occurs outside the vicinity of the two known localities; given the
threat of chytridiomycosis, successful conservation measures will probably need to include the maintenance of any
surviving individuals in captivity.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Cannatella, D.C. (1981), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006),
Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Hernández-Camacho, J.A. (1978), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Andrés Acosta-Galvis, Wilmar Bolívar, Fernando Castro, John Lynch
CR Atelopus carbonerensis Rivero, 1972
Critically Endangered A2ace; B2ab(v)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Pascual Soriani
Geographic Range This species is known from a single locality estimated to be less than 10km² in size (La Marca
1992) in the state of Mérida, in the Venezuelan Andes. In the past, it was most common at the Bosque de San Eusebio
(La Carbonera). It has been recorded from 2,000-2,800m asl.
VENEZUELAN YELLOW FROG
Population Populations of this frog seem to be restricted to the type locality, where it was formerly abundant, but
is now extremely rare, and possibly even extinct. It was last recorded in 1998, despite intensive searches for the
species. Observations of population declines were made by La Marca (1995b).
Habitat and Ecology This species is an inhabitant of cloud forest and it is found along streams. Surviving populations,
if it is still extant, are restricted to an isolated patch of forest surrounded by pasturelands. It lays eggs chains
in streams, and the larvae develop in these streams.
Major Threats The first alert about the conservation status of the species was advanced by La Marca and Reinthaler
(1991). As with other Atelopus species, the most likely cause of the dramatic decline is chytridiomycosis, which was
confi rmed in this species in 1988. Logging and agricultural expansion, both for crops and livestock, are major threats
to the species’ habitat. The recent introduction of Rana catesbeiana in places near the type locality poses the problem
of a new predator. With higher insolation as a result of climate change, this species could be at increased risk due to
its habit of basking in the sun. It has been recorded occasionally in the international pet trade although not at levels
thought to pose a major threat to the species.
Conservation Measures This species occurs in Parque Nacional Sierra de La Culata and a few unprotected areas
nearby (La Marca and Lötters 1997). Surveys to determine whether or not this species still survives are urgently needed.
Given the threat of chytridiomycosis, surviving individuals might need to be maintained in captivity.
Notes on taxonomy: This species was elevated to species status by La Marca (1983).
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), La Marca, E. (1983), La Marca, E. (1992), La Marca, E. (1995b), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), La
Marca, E. and Lötters, S. (1997), La Marca, E. and Reinthaler, H.P. (1991), Lötters, S. (1996), Lötters, S., La Marca, E. and Vences, M. (2004),
Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Rivero, J.A. (1972), Rodríguez, J.P. and Rojas-Suárez, F. (1995), Torres, D.A. and Barrio, C.L. (2001)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Argelia Rodríguez, Juan Elías García-Pérez
CR Atelopus carrikeri Ruthven, 1916
Critically Endangered A3ce
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Juan Manuel Renjifo
Geographic Range This species is known from the páramos of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in the department
of Magdalena, Colombia. It has been recorded between 2,350 and 4,800m asl.
Population The current population status of this species is unknown, but it was common in the past (1994). There
has been no recent survey work due to security problems in the area.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in sub-Andean and Andean forests, and páramo, and also the lower portion of
snowy areas. It can adapt to some modification of its habitat. It lays egg chains in streams, where the tadpoles
also develop.
Major Threats The most serious threat to this species is the risk of chytridiomycosis, which has had a devastating
impact on other high-altitude Atelopus species. Climate change, habitat loss caused by agriculture, and crop
fumigation, are all also major threats.
Conservation Measures Its range includes Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Surveys to
determine the current population status of this species are urgently required. A captive-breeding programme might
need to be established.
Notes on taxonomy: We follow Coloma (2002) in considering Atelopus leoperezii as a synonym of this species.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Acosta-Galvis, A. (2000a), Coloma, L.A. (2002), La Marca, E. et
al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Rueda-Almonacid, J.V. (1994b), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and
Hernández-Camacho, J.A. (1994), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Andrés Acosta-Galvis, Martha Patricia Ramírez Pinilla, Mariela Osorno-Muñoz, Jose Vicente Rueda, Adolfo Amézquita,
María Cristina Ardila-Robayo