Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

Globally Threatened Amphibian Species 175
CR Atelopus senex Taylor, 1952
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Costa Rica
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Wayne Van Devender
Geographic Range This species occurs in humid montane forest in central Costa Rica in the Cordilleras Central and
Talamanca in Costa Rica from 1,100-2,200m asl.
Population This species was formerly abundant but has not been seen since 1986 despite repeated searches. It was
formerly abundant on the slopes of Volcán Barva, but is now believed extinct there (Savage 2002).
Habitat and Ecology It occurs and reproduces in stream margins in premontane rainforest and lower montane rainforest.
It is a diurnal, stream-breeding species, and used to be found in great concentrations during the reproductive
period from July to August (Savage 2002).
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. Other threats to this species might include climate change,
collecting for the pet trade, and possibly pollution.
Conservation Measures The range of this species is protected by both Parque Nacional Tapantí and Parque Nacional
Braulio Carrillo (although it is now believed extinct in the latter area). Further survey work is required to determine
whether or not this species still persists. Given the threat of chytridiomycosis, surviving individuals might need to
form the basis for the establishment of an ex-situ population.
Bibliography: Barrantes, U. (1986), Cocroft, R.B. et al. (1990), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006),
Savage, J.M. (2002)
Data Providers: Federico Bolaños, Gerardo Chaves, Uriel Barrantes
CR Atelopus sernai Ruíz-Carranza and Osorno-Muñoz, 1994
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© John Jairo Estrada, courtesy of Museo de Herpetología
Universidad de Antioquia
Geographic Range This species is known from the type locality, Serrania Las Baldias, and from one other locality,
Belnira, Paramo Morron, both of which are in Antioquia Department, in Colombia, between 2,800 and 3,100m asl.
Population It is not a common species, and recent surveys have not found any specimens at the type locality; a decline
has also been observed at the other known locality. The most recent record of the species was apparently in 2000.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs on vegetation along streams in natural forest edge in the high Andes, and has not
been recorded from disturbed habitats. Breeding and larval development 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. Other major threats include habitat loss, due to agricultural
expansion (illegal crops), water pollution from agriculture, and possibly climate change.
Conservation Measures The range of the species is not within any protected areas. Further survey work is required
to determine the population status of this species and the limits of its range. In view of the threat of chytridiomycosis,
the status of this species should be closely monitored, and ex-situ populations should be established.
Bibliography: Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Acosta-Galvis, A. (2000b), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Ruiz-Carranza,
P.M. and Osorno-Muñoz, M. (1994), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Jose Vicente Rueda, Mariela Osorno-Muñoz, María Cristina Ardila-Robayo, Ruth Adriana Maldonado-Silva, Wilmar
Bolívar, Fernando Castro, John Lynch
CR Atelopus simulatus Ruíz-Carranza and Osorno-Muñoz, 1994
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Fundación ProAves / www.proaves.org
Geographic Range This species is known from the central Andes of Colombia, from Cauca and Tolima Departments,
between 2,500 and 3,000m asl.
Population Before 1999 this was a common species, but it has only been recorded once since then (2001) at a single
locality despite numerous searches. A serious decline appears to have taken place.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs on the ground near streams and also in open areas; it has not been recorded from
anthropogenically disturbed habitats. 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 due to agricultural expansion (including the
planting of illegal crops), as well as water pollution from agriculture, are major threats to the species. Climate change
might also be a threat, but this needs to be investigated further.
Conservation Measures It is not known whether or not this species occurs in any protected areas. Further survey
work is needed to determine whether or not this species still survives. Given the threat of chytridiomycosis, recommended
conservation measures should include the establishment of a captive-breeding programme.
Bibliography: Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Acosta-Galvis, A. (2000b), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Ruiz-Carranza,
P.M. and Osorno-Muñoz, M. (1994), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Alonso Quevedo Gil, Jose Vicente Rueda, Wilmar Bolívar
CR Atelopus sonsonensis Vélez-Rodríguez and Ruíz-Carranza, 1997
Critically Endangered A3ce
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Unknown
© John D. Lynch
Geographic Range This species is known only from the type locality: Mesopotamia, near Páramo de Sonsón, in the
municipality of Sonsón, Vereda Caunzal, on the eastern side of the Cordillera Central, about 15km to the east of the
municipality of Argelia, in Colombia. It was recorded at 1,500m asl, and might occur more widely.
Population The population status is unknown. This is a relatively newly described species, but it apparently has not
been recorded since it was fi rst discovered in 1996.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs on the ground in the under-storey of forest along streams; it has not been recorded
from disturbed habitats. Breeding and larval development 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. Habitat loss due to smallholder farming activities and the
planting of illegal crops, and water pollution from agriculture, are major threats to the species.
Conservation Measures This species is not known from any protected areas. More research into the species’ range
and population status is needed, in particular to determine if it occurs outside the vicinity of the type locality. In view
of the threat of chytridiomycosis, ex-situ populations might need to be established.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Vélez-Rodríguez and Ruiz-Carranza,
P.M. (1997)
Data Providers: Wilmar Bolívar, Fernando Castro