Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

214
Threatened Amphibians of the World
VU Cochranella griffithsi (Goin, 1961)
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Colombia, Ecuador
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research
Center, University of Kansas
Geographic Range This species occurs on the Pacific slopes of the Cordillera Occidental in Colombia, in Antioquia,
Choco, Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Nariño and Risaralda Departments, south to Cotopaxi Province in adjacent Ecuador. It
is also known from the eastern slopes of the Cordlillera Central in the Department of Caldas, Colombia. In Ecuador it
has been recorded from only fi ve sites covering a relatively small area. It has been recorded at 1,780-2,650m asl.
Population It is very common in Colombia, but uncommon in Ecuador where it appears to have disappeared from
Quebrada Zapadores in Pichincha Province, where it once occurred.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs on vegetation next to streams in montane forests, and is perhaps a little more arboreal
than some other related species. It is not found in degraded habitats, but does occur in selectively logged forest. It
breeds in streams, with the eggs laid on leaves overhanging the water.
Major Threats The major threat is habitat loss as a result of deforestation for agricultural development (including
the planting of illegal crops), logging, and human settlement. Other threats include the introduction of alien predatory
fish, and pollution resulting from the spraying of illegal crops. Like some other centrolenids, this species might
also be affected by the movement of the cloud layer up the mountain sides as a result of climate change, resulting
in reduced humidity within the altitudinal range of the species (probably exacerbated by habitat fragmentation).
Chytridiomycosis is a possible future threat.
Conservation Measures It occurs in several protected areas in Colombia, while in Ecuador its range overlaps with
Reserva Ecológica Los Illinizas.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Goin, C.J. (1961), Morales, M. et al. (2002), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1991a),
Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Wilmar Bolívar, Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Mario Yánez-Muñoz, Taran Grant
EN Cochranella luminosa Ruíz-Carranza and Lynch, 1995
Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is known from three localities in
Antioquia Department, on the western flank of the western Andes
in Colombia, between 1,140 and 1,430m asl.
Population It is not a rare species but it is difficult to collect as it
occurs high in the canopy.
Habitat and Ecology It is restricted to primary forest, occurring
next to streams. It lays its eggs on the top of leaves in the canopy
and when hatched the larvae drop into the stream below where
they develop further.
Major Threats The main threats are habitat loss and fragmentation
caused by the expansion of livestock ranching activities, timber
extraction for subsistence use, and the planting of illegal crops.
Conservation Measures The range of the species includes
Parque Nacional Natural Orquideas. However, additional habitat
protection is required for this species, given its reliance on intact
primary forest.
Bibliography: Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1995a)
Data Providers: Erik Wild, John Lynch
EN Cochranella mache Guayasamin and Bonaccorso, 2004
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Ecuador
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Juan Manuel Guayasamin
Geographic Range This species is known only from around 510m asl near Río Aguacatal in the Reserva Biológica
Bilsa in the Montañas de Mache of Esmeraldas Province in the Chocó region of the north-western Ecuadorian lowlands.
The species is likely to occur in other localities within the surrounding Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve, but may
be restricted to the Mache-Chindul Mountains.
Population It appears to be rare, although this may be due to the fact that the species generally inhabits the forest
canopy and may be hard to locate.
Habitat and Ecology It is known from evergreen foothill forest, and individuals have been found at night on vegetation
1-1.5m above the ground near streams. The species is presumed to be a larval developer.
Major Threats The Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve represents the last sizeable block of forest in the northern
coastal hills of north-western Ecuador. Unfortunately, the area is under signifi cant pressure from logging.
Conservation Measures The known range of this species is encompassed by the 2,500-ha Reserva Biológica Bilsa,
managed by Fundación Jatun Sacha, which, in turn, is located within the Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve.
Bibliography: Guayasamin, J.M. and Bonaccorso, E. (2004)
Data Providers: Juan Guayasamin
EN Cochranella megacheira (Lynch and Duellman, 1973)
Endangered B1ab(iii,iv,v)+2ab(iii,iv,v)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Colombia, Ecuador
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research
Center, University of Kansas
Geographic Range This species occurs on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes in Ecuador (at four locations in Napo
Province: near Santa Rosa, Río Azuela, Río Salado, and Guacamayos), and also from the Amazonian slopes of the
Cordillera Oriental, in Putumayo Department, Colombia. It has been recorded at 1,300-1,750m asl.
Population It was most recently seen in Ecuador in 2000, and it appears to be very rare, having apparently disappeared
from Río Azuela. There is no recent information from Colombia.
Habitat and Ecology It inhabits mature, closed cloud forest, where it has been found on the leaves and stems of
bushes and trees overhanging streams. It does not occur in degraded areas. It breeds in streams, with the eggs laid
on leaves overhanging the water.
Major Threats The major threats include: deforestation for agricultural development, the planting of illegal crops,
logging, and human settlement; introduction of alien predatory fish in streams; and pollution resulting from the spraying
of illegal crops. Like some other centrolenids, this species might also be affected by the movement of the cloud layer
up the mountain slopes as a result of climate change, resulting in reduced humidity within the altitudinal range of the
species (probably exacerbated by habitat fragmentation). Chytridiomycosis may present a possible future threat.
Conservation Measures It has not been found in any protected areas, and protection of the cloud forest habitat of
this species is urgently needed. Survey work is necessary to ascertain the current population status of this species;
given the nature of some of the threats, an ex situ population may need to be established.
Bibliography: Lynch, J.D. and Duellman, W.E. (1973), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1991a), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo,
M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Wilmar Bolívar, Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Ana Almandáriz, Taran Grant