Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

Globally Threatened Amphibian Species 215
VU Cochranella posadae Ruíz-Carranza and Lynch, 1995
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Fundación ProAves / www.proaves.org
Geographic Range This species is known from Caldas (Samaná), Cauca (Inza) and Huila (San Jose Isnos) Departments
on the eastern flank of the Cordillera Central in Colombia, between 1,100 and 2,800m asl. It presumably occurs more
widely, particularly at localities between the two currently known areas.
Population It is a common species.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in sub-Andean and Andean forests, on vegetation alongside streams. Eggs are laid on
leaves over-hanging water and when they hatch the tadpoles drop into the water below where they develop further.
They require gallery forest to lay their eggs, and hence are sensitive to any disturbance of their forest habitat.
Major Threats Threats to this species include habitat fragmentation and loss, due to the expansion of agriculture
(including the planting of illegal crops) and timber extraction, and water pollution.
Conservation Measures The range of the species does not include any protected areas, and there is a need for
improved habitat protection of sites where this species is known to occur.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1995b), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1997), Ruiz-
Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Erik Wild, John Lynch
VU Cochranella prasina (Duellman, 1981)
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research
Center, University of Kansas
Geographic Range This species is known from Valle del Cauca Department, northwards through Choco and Risaralda
departments to Antioquia Department, on the western flank of the western Andes, in Colombia, between 900 and
1,450m asl. It probably occurs more widely.
Population It can be locally common in suitable habitat.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in rainforests and sub-Andean forest, and is often found on vegetation along streams
(being restricted to streams with canopy cover). It lays its eggs on the upper surface of leaves and when hatched the
tadpoles drop into the stream below.
Major Threats The major threats are habitat fragmentation and loss, due to the expansion of agriculture (cattle
raising and planting of illegal crops), and water pollution.
Conservation Measures The range of the species includes Parque Nacional Natural Orquideas.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1991a), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and
Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Fernando Castro, Taran Grant, Erik Wild
VU Cochranella punctulata Ruíz-Carranza and Lynch, 1995
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Mauricio Rivera-Correa, courtesy of Museo de
Herpetología Universidad de Antioquia
Geographic Range This species is known from Tolima, Antioquia and Caldas Departments on the eastern fl ank of
the Central Cordillera, between 500 and 930m asl, in Colombia. It probably occurs more widely.
Population It is a very common species.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in sub-Andean forests, on vegetation alongside streams. Eggs are laid on leaves
over-hanging water and when they hatch the tadpoles drop in to the water below where they develop further. They
require gallery forest to lay their eggs, and hence are very sensitive to habitat disturbance.
Major Threats The major threats are habitat fragmentation and loss, due to the expansion of agriculture (cattle
raising and planting of illegal crops), and water pollution. A small white fly lays its eggs within the eggs of this
species, resulting in egg mortality.
Conservation Measures The range of this species does not include any protected areas, hence there is a need for
improved habitat protection at sites where it is known to occur.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1995b), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1997), Ruiz-
Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Alonso Quevedo Gil, John Lynch
VU Cochranella resplendens (Lynch and Duellman, 1973)
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Colombia, Ecuador
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© John D. Lynch
Geographic Range This species is only known from the type locality in Ecuador (Santa Cecilia) and from one
location in Colombia (south-western Putumayo), but might occur more widely than these records suggest. It occurs
between 300 and 400m asl.
Population This is thought to be a rare species in Colombia, but there is no information on population status in Ecuador.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in lowland tropical primary and secondary rainforests, and sub-Andean forests, on
vegetation next to running water sources like streams. The holotype was found in primary rainforest (Lynch and Duellman
1973). It has not been recorded from anthropogenic habitats. The eggs are laid on leaves above the streams,
and when hatched the tadpoles drop into the stream below.
Major Threats The species is threatened by habitat fragmentation and habitat loss, as a result of agricultural
expansion (including the planting of illegal crops) and timber extraction, and water pollution.
Conservation Measures It is not known from any protected areas in Colombia or Ecuador, and there is a need for
improved habitat protection at sites where this species is known to occur.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Guayasamin, J.M. and Bonaccorso, E. (2004), 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: Fernando Castro, Jose Vicente Rueda, Wilmar Bolívar, Ruth Amanda Estupinan, Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Ana
Almandáriz