Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

164
Threatened Amphibians of the World
CR Atelopus coynei Miyata, 1980
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Ecuador
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Ted Kahn, based on a photograph by Ken Miyati
Geographic Range This species is known from the provinces of Pichincha, Imbabura, and Carchi on the Pacific
versant of the Andes in north-western Ecuador. It has been recorded from 600-1,380m asl.
Population It is a rare species and has not been recorded since September 1984. It has probably undergone a
serious population decrease.
Habitat and Ecology This species is an inhabitant of humid north-western Andean montane forest. It appears
to be able to adapt to secondary forest. It lays its eggs in swift-fl owing streams and rivers. It has typical Atelopus
tadpoles, attached to rocks.
Major Threats The most critical threat to this species is probably chytridiomycosis. Agriculture, both crops and
livestock, as well as logging and infrastructure development for human settlement, are major threats to the species’
habitat.
Conservation Measures The range of this species includes the Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas. Surveys are
needed to establish whether or not this species still survives in the wild. Given the threat of chytridiomycosis, successful
conservation measures will probably need to include the maintenance of any surviving individuals in captivity.
Bibliography: La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996), Miyata, K. (1980), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006)
Data Providers: Santiago Ron, Luis A. Coloma, Martín R. Bustamante, Diego Cisneros-Heredia, Ana Almandáriz, Mario Yánez-Muñoz
CR Atelopus cruciger (Lichtenstein and Martens, 1856)
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Francisco José López-López
Geographic Range This species is restricted to several localities in the northern and southern versants of the
Cordillera de la Costa of Venezuela (Estadoes Aragua, Carabobo, Miranda, Vargas, Yaracuy and the Distrito Federal)
and recently from the Cerro Azul (Estado Cojedes) (Rivas Fuenmayor 1998) which suggests that the species might be
present throughout the entire mountainous area of the central coastal range (Lötters, La Marca and Vences 2004).
It has been recorded from 30-2,200m asl.
Population Although this species was once abundant, it has undergone an extreme decline, to the point that despite
extensive surveys no specimens have been seen since 1986 and there are no museum records after 1988 (La Marca
RANCHO GRANDE HARLEQUIN FROG
1995; La Marca and Lötters 1997; Manzanilla and La Marca 1999; Lötters, La Marca and Vences 2004). Recently
(2004), a single small population of A. cruciger has been found just south of the town of Cata within the limits of the
107,000-ha Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, in cloud forest at 600m asl.
Habitat and Ecology It is a diurnal species usually found on rocks of rivulets or the surroundings, where they can
climb on to plants up to 1.5m above ground. The general habitat is humid forest in montane and lowland environments.
It breeds along swift-fl owing streams. The recently rediscovered population was found by a cascading
mountain stream in cloud forest.
Major Threats The major cause of the observed population decline of this species is chytridiomycosis, which was
confi rmed in 1986 (Bonaccoroso et al. 2003). Pollution by acid rain could be another possible threat, given the vicinity
of the species to the large concentration of industries generating polluting gases in the nearby area of Valencia-
Maracay. Droughts and flash fl oods could be a further potential threat, as well as over collecting for scientific or
pet trade purposes.
Conservation Measures Many of the known localities are within the Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Parque Nacional
Rancho Grande, and Parque Nacional San Esteban. Monitoring of the populations, establishment of a captive-breeding
population, and disease management are all urgently required.
Notes on taxonomy: This species was recently redescribed by Lötters, La Marca and Vences (2004) following the discovery that the
original type material represents Atelopus varius of Central America. The former junior synonym A. vogli is considered to be a distinct
species following Lötters, La Marca and Vences (2004).
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Bonaccorso, E. et al. (2003), Guayasamin, J.M. et al. (2002), La Marca, E. (1995b), La Marca,
E. et al. (2005), La Marca, E. and Lötters, S. (1997), Lichtenstein, M.H.C. and Von Martens, E.C. (1856), Lötters, S. (1996), Lötters, S., La
Marca, E. and Vences, M. (2004), Manzanilla, J. (2001), Manzanilla, J. et al. (1995), Manzanilla, J. and La Marca, E. (1999), Manzanilla,
J. and La Marca, E. (2004), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Rivas Fuenmayor, G. (1998), Rodríguez, J.P. and Rojas-Suárez, F. (1995), Solano
de Chacín, H. (1968)
Data Providers: Jesús Manzanilla, Enrique La Marca, Ronald Heyer, Ernesto Fernández-Badillo
EN Atelopus dimorphus Lötters, 2003
Endangered A3e
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Peru
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Rainer Schulte
Geographic Range This species is known only from the western versant of the Cordillera Azul, Huánuco Department,
Peru, where it has been observed between 1,650 and 1,800m asl.
Population It is currently known only from museum specimens, and was last recorded in 1980.
Habitat and Ecology The general habitat in the area of collection is humid mountain forest. It is presumed to be
a stream-breeding species.
Major Threats The threats to the species within its range on the Cordillera Azul have not been recorded. However,
like other members of its genus, it is assumed to be at severe risk from chytridiomycosis.
Conservation Measures It is not known to occur in any protected areas. In view of the likely threat of chytridiomycosis,
it is a very high priority to conduct surveys to locate this species and determine its current population status;
a captive-breeding programme may also need to be established.
Bibliography: La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (2003), Lötters, S. et al. (2005), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006)
Data Providers: Stefan Lötters
CR Atelopus ebenoides Rivero, 1963
Critically Endangered A2ace+3ce
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Rocha, C. GESA - UPTC
Geographic Range This species occurs in the southern part of the Colombian Andes in Cauca and Huila Departments,
with a separate northern population (Atelopus ebenoides marinkellei) at the Páramo de las Papas, in the Department
of Boyacá, in the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. Its altitudinal range is 2,500-4,700m asl.
Population The northern population had not been recorded since 1995, until its remarkable rediscovery in early
May of 2006 in the highlands of Boyacá . The southern populations were last recorded in 1992, though there have
not been any recent surveys.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs on vegetation, mosses and in leaf-litter along streams in Andean forests and páramos.
It has not been recorded from disturbed habitat. The tadpoles develop 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. Habitat loss caused by agricultural expansion (cattle
ranching and the planting of illegal crops), as well as pollution from the fumigation of crops, and water source loss
are all threats.
Conservation Measures It occurs in the Parque Nacional Natural Puracé. Survey work has recently confirmed the
persistence of the northern population, but additional surveys are needed to ascertain the population status of the
southern population. Given the threat of chytridiomycosis, successful conservation measures will probably need to
include the maintenance of any surviving individuals in captivity. Research is also needed to confirm the taxonomic
status of the northern populations of the species.
Notes on taxonomy: The northernmost population of this species is sometimes regarded as a separate species (Atelopus
marinkellei).
Bibliography: Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Acosta-Galvis, A. (2000b), Cochran, D.M. and Goin, C.J. (1970), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters,
S. (1996), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Alberto Cadena, Andrés Acosta-Galvis, Wilmar Bolívar, John Lynch