Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

168
Threatened Amphibians of the World
CR Atelopus halihelos Peters, 1973
Critically Endangered A2ace; B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Ecuador
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Ted Kahn
Geographic Range This species is known only from the Cordillera Cutucú, in Morona-Santiago Province, in southern
Ecuador, around 1,975m asl.
Population Although sampling effort through the species’ range is insufficient, it is likely that this species has
undergone a population decline (as seen in other montane species of Atelopus). It was last recorded in 1984, and is
perhaps no longer present at the type locality.
Habitat and Ecology This species is an inhabitant of humid montane forest. There is no specific information on their
breeding habits, but these are likely to be similar to other Atelopus species, with breeding and larval development
taking place in streams.
Major Threats The most serious risk to this species is chytridiomycosis, which has had a devastating impact on
other high-altitude Atelopus species. Agriculture, both crops and livestock, as well as logging and infrastructure
development for human settlement are major threats to the species’ habitat.
Conservation Measures It is not known to occur in any protected areas. Surveys to confirm the continued existence
of this species are needed; given the threat of chytridiomycosis, surviving individuals should be maintained
in captivity.
Bibliography: Duellman, W.E. and Lynch, J.D. (1988), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996), Peters, J.A. (1973), Pounds, J.A.
et al. (2006)
Data Providers: Santiago Ron, Luis A. Coloma, Martín R. Bustamante
CR Atelopus laetissimus Ruíz-Carranza, Ardila-Robayo and Hernández-Camacho, 1994
Critically Endangered A3ce
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Fundación ProAves / www.proaves.org
Geographic Range This species is known from the slopes of south-east Cuchilla San Lorenzo, in the north-west
sector of Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (in the department of Magdalena), and the adjacent
El Dorado Nature Reserve, in Colombia. It has been recorded from 1,900-2,880m asl.
Population This was a common species when last recorded in 1992. A population was rediscovered on 22 May 2006
when staff of the El Dorado Nature Reserve located two individuals in a small forested stream.
Habitat and Ecology This species is an inhabitant of sub-Andean forests. It can also adapt to some modification
of its habitat. It lays egg chains in streams, where the tadpoles also develop.
Major Threats The most serious risk to this species is chytridiomycosis, which has had a devastating impact on other
high-altitude Atelopus species. Climate change, habitat loss due to agriculture, and pollution from the fumigation
of illegal crops are also major threats.
Conservation Measures Its range includes Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the
adjacent El Dorado Nature Reserve established in March 2006 to secure one of the last forested valleys for this and
other threatened amphibian and bird species. Further surveys are needed to determine the current population status
of this species. Disease management and captive-breeding programmes might be required, particularly if it is found
that the species has suffered extensive declines due to chytridiomycosis.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M.
and Ardila-Robayo, M.C. (1991), 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: Martha Patricia Ramírez Pinilla, Mariela Osorno-Muñoz, Jose Vicente Rueda, Adolfo Amézquita, María Cristina
Ardila-Robayo
EN Atelopus limosus Ibáñez, Jaramillo and Solís, 1995
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Panama
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Brian Kubicki
Geographic Range This species is endemic to the eastern Atlantic versant of central Panama, although it is believed
to occur much more widely. It is a low-altitude species, occurring at 10-730m asl.
Population This species is reasonably common at a number of localities, and there is little evidence of a decline.
However, at Filo de Santa Rita, Provincia de Colón, while relatively abundant in October 2000, only one individual
was seen in December 2002 (R. Ibáñez pers. obs.).
Habitat and Ecology This is a terrestrial species of tropical lowland forest. Breeding and larval development takes
place in forest streams.
Major Threats The deforestation of habitat for agricultural use and general infrastructure development, as well as
water pollution and stream sedimentation, are the main threats to this species. A number of congeners have recently
disappeared over much of their range due to the effects of chytrid, although this species probably occurs below the
altitude at which chytridiomycosis is prevalent.
Conservation Measures The species has been recorded from Parque Nacional Chagres, but expanded habitat
protection is recommended. Further survey work is needed to establish the limits of the species’ range, and close
monitoring of existing populations is necessary.
Bibliography: Ibáñez, R. et al. (2000), Ibanez-D.R., Jaramillo, C.A. and Solis, F.A. (1995), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996),
Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Savage, J.M. (1972a), Young, B. et al. (1999)
Data Providers: Frank Solís, Roberto Ibáñez, César Jaramillo, Querube Fuenmayor
EN Atelopus longibrachius Rivero, 1963
Endangered A3ce; B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is known only from the region
of the type locality: El Tambo, near Guisito, at 800m asl, Cauca
Department, Colombia. Lötters (1996) suggested that the elevation
given for the type locality (300m asl) was a typographic error in the
original publication.
Population There is no recent information on the population status
of this species.
Habitat and Ecology It lives on the ground in tropical humid forests,
and presumably breeds in streams.
Major Threats The major threat is likely to be chytridiomycosis, as
has occurred in many other species of Atelopus (although its occurrence
at lower altitudes might afford it some level of protection from
the disease). Additional threats include deforestation for agricultural
development, illegal crops, logging and human settlement, and pollution
resulting from the spraying of illegal crops.
Conservation Measures It occurs in Parque Nacional Natural Munchique. In view of the severe risk of chytridiomycosis,
it is a high priority to conduct surveys to determine the current population status of this species, as well as
to initiate a captive-breeding programme.
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., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Andrés Acosta-Galvis, Wilmar Bolívar, Stefan Lötters