Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

178
Threatened Amphibians of the World
CR Atelopus walkeri Rivero, 1963
Critically Endangered A3ce
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is known from the northern slope
of the Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in
the Department of Magdalena, and from the Guatapuri river basin
in the department of Cesar, in northern Colombia, between 1,500
and 2,900m asl.
Population This species was considered to be common when it was
last recorded in 1992. There have been no further surveys within its
range since then.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in sub-Andean and 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. Habitat fragmentation, primarily due to agriculture,
and pollution, resulting from agricultural practices and the fumigation
of crops, are also major threats.
Conservation Measures The range of the species includes Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Surveys are needed to determine the current population status of this species. Disease management and captivebreeding
programmes are recommended.
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.,
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
CR Atelopus zeteki Dunn, 1933
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Panama
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
CITES: Appendix I
© Paul Crump
Geographic Range This species is endemic to Panama, occurring east of the main Tabasará ridge in Provincias
Coclé and Panamá at 335-1,315m asl.
Population This species was reasonably common at a number of localities, and has been recorded as recently as
2005, but it is apparently less abundant north of El Copé, in comparison with observations in 1980. It is very rare or
extinct on Cerro Campana. It has been extinct in the El Valle de Antón for approximately 40 years. In recent years,
PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROG
populations have been declining catastrophically due to chytridiomycosis, and the well-known El Copé population
collapsed and disappeared over the course of a few months in late 2004 (K. Lips pers. comm.). The chytridiomycosis
epidemic is spreading from west to east through Panama, and populations in the eastern part of its range are now
at severe risk of disappearing.
Habitat and Ecology It is a terrestrial species of tropical montane forest, with breeding and larval development
taking place in forest streams.
Major Threats The major threat is likely to be chytridiomycosis, which has led to catastrophic population declines in
many other species of montane Atelopus. The deforestation of habitat for both agriculture and general infrastructure
development, water pollution, and over collection for the pet trade are also threats to this species. In 2003, a road
from Sorá to El Valle was opened along the ridge of the Cordillera Central, resulting in heavy sedimentation of most
streams on the Pacific and Caribbean slopes, which has negatively affected a significant portion of the habitat used
by this species (R. Ibañez, in litt. to E. La Marca).
Conservation Measures This species is protected in Panama by national legislation (as Atelopus varius zetek) decree
No. 23 of January 30, 1967. It has been recorded from the protected areas of Parque Nacional Altos de Campana
and Parque Nacional Omar Torrijos Herrera. A successful captive-breeding programme involving many zoos in North
America is in place, although no re-introductions will be made until existing threats can be addressed. Steps are also
under way to establishing a captive colony in Panama.
Bibliography: Cocroft, R.B. et al. (1990), Daly, J.W. et al. (1994), Ibáñez, R. et al. (2000), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lindquist, E.D. (1995),
Lindquist, E.D. and Hetherington, T.E. (1996), Lindquist, E.D. and Hetherington, T.E. (1998a), Lindquist, E.D. and Hetherington, T.E. (1998b),
Lindquist, E.D., Hetherington, T.E. and Badgley, D.D. (1999), Lötters, S. (1996), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Ramos, C.W., Pimentel, N. and
Martinez-Cortes, V. (2002), Young, B. et al. (1999), Zippel, K. (2002)
Data Providers: Karen Lips, Frank Solís, Roberto Ibáñez, César Jaramillo, Querube Fuenmayor
CR Bufo amabilis Pramuk and Kadivar, 2003
Critically Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Ecuador
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© John D. Lynch
Geographic Range This species is known only from elevations of 2,050-2,200m asl in the Loja Basin, an inter-
Andean valley in Loja Province, Ecuador (Pramuk and Kadivar 2003). It is likely to have a restricted distribution, and
recent surveys confi rm this.
Population Past collections indicate that the species was fairly common at areas nearby creeks, even near plantations;
however, surveys undertaken between 1989 and 2001 failed to fi nd the species. It appears that it has not been
collected since 1968, and a serious decrease might have taken place.
Habitat and Ecology The species has been collected in small pools and irrigation canals. Little is known of its habitat
requirements or ecology, but breeding is presumed to take place in freshwater by larval development.
Major Threats The apparent declines of this species might in part be due to the modifi cation of much of the Loja
basin area for agriculture, urbanization, and other regional development. It appears that populations of this toad
in the area surrounding Provincia Loja have been severely affected by human activities (Pramuk and Kadivar 2003).
Disease might also be a factor but there is no evidence to confi rm this.
Conservation Measures The species is not known to occur within a protected area. More exhaustive searches are
needed to determine the population status of this species.
Bibliography: Pramuk, J.B. and Kadivar, F. (2003)
Data Providers: Luis A. Coloma
EN Bufo amatolicus Hewitt, 1925
AMATOLA TOAD
Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: South Africa
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Richard Boycott
Geographic Range This species is known only from the Winterberg and Amatola Mountains, between Katberg and
Keiskammahoek, in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, at 1,400-1,800m asl.
Population It is locally moderately common, and congregates in large numbers to breed.
Habitat and Ecology It breeds in shallow temporary pools and seepages in high-altitude moist grasslands, and is
absent from forests and plantations.
Major Threats The main threats are deforestation, overgrazing, and fires; over the last 20 years, about 20% of its
habitat has been lost to plantations.
Conservation Measures It occurs in the Hogsback Indigenous Forest and the Kubisi Indigenous Forest. Continued and
strengthened protection of these areas, and expanded protection of other remaining forest habitat, are necessary.
Bibliography: Branch, W.R. (1988), Channing, A. (2001), Minter, L.R. et al. (2004), Passmore, N.I. and Carruthers, V.C. (1995), Tandy, M.
and Keith, R. (1972), Wager, V.A. (1986)
Data Providers: Leslie Minter, James Harrison