Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

Globally Threatened Amphibian Species 219
VU Hyalinobatrachium fragile (Rivero, 1985)
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Francisco José López-López
Geographic Range This species is known from several localities in the Cordillera de la Costa, including La Sierra in
Cojedes State, and Sierra de Aroa in Yaracuy State, in Venezuela. It has been recorded from 100-700m asl.
Population It is probably an uncommon species.
Habitat and Ecology It inhabits montane forest environments, where it occurs along streams. It lays its eggs on
the under side of leaves overhanging streams, and when hatched the larvae fall into the stream below where they
develop further.
Major Threats The major threat to this species is habitat loss due to agriculture (both crops and livestock), as well
as logging. Avalanches are a potential threat along the coast, especially during heavy rainfall periods.
Conservation Measures It is present in several protected areas, including Parque Nacional Henri Pittier and
Rancho Grande.
Notes on taxonomy: In the past, some specimens of this species were considered to be Hyalinobatrachium fleishmanni.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), La Marca, E. (1992), La Marca, E. (1997), Myers, C.W. and Donnelly, M.A. (1997), Rivero, J.A.
(1985), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1991a)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Celsa Señaris
EN Hyalinobatrachium guairarepanensis Señaris, 2001
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is known from the central part of
the Venezuelan coastal mountain range on the Cordillera de la Costa,
at elevations between 720 and 1,000m asl.
Population The population of this species is in decline, even in
pristine habitats. It is associated with Atelopus cruciger, which
has disappeared from almost all of its range, probably because of
chytridiomycosis.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs along streams in seasonal (semicaducifolious)
forests. It lays its eggs on leaves overhanging streams,
and when hatched the larvae fall into the stream below where they
develop further.
Major Threats Agriculture, logging, water pollution, and infrastructure
development for human settlement are all major threats to the
species’ habitat. However, it is declining even in pristine habitats,
suggesting that chytridiomycosis, or some other disease, may be
playing a role in the observed declines.
Conservation Measures Its range includes Parque Nacional El Avila and Parque Nacional Macarao. Further research
is required to determine the reasons for its decline in pristine habitat. If disease is shown to be a major threat, then
surviving individuals may need to form the basis for the establishment of an ex-situ population.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Rivero, J.A. (1961), Rivero, J.A. (1968a), Señaris, J.C. (2001)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Celsa Señaris
VU Hyalinobatrachium ibama Ruíz-Carranza and Lynch, 1998
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Conservacion Internacional-Colombia
Geographic Range This species occurs on the western slopes of the Cordillera Oriental in Norte de Santander
and Santander Departments, Colombia, between 1,600 and 2,050m asl. It probably occurs a little more widely than
current records suggest.
Population It is common, and there are many recent records.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in riparian habitats in old-growth forests. It lays its eggs on vegetation, and the
tadpoles develop in streams.
Major Threats Habitat loss caused by agricultural expansion (cattle ranching, planting of illegal crops, and especially
onion farming) is the main threat to this species. Pollution, resulting from the fumigation of illegal crops, is
also a threat.
Conservation Measures It occurs in Santuario de Fauna y Flora Guanentá, Alto Río Fonce and Area Natural Unica
Los Estoraques.
Bibliography: Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1991b), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1998)
Data Providers: Jose Vicente Rueda, Mariela Osorno-Muñoz
VU Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Rivero, 1968)
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Centrolenidae
Country Distribution: Trinidad and Tobago,
Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Juan Elías García-Pérez
Geographic Range The nominate subspecies is known only from the eastern sector of the Venezuelan Coastal Range,
with records from Serranía del Interior, Macizo de Turimiquire, and Serranía de Paria in the states of Monagas and
Sucre, at elevations of 190-1,200m asl. The subspecies H. o. tobagoensis is recorded from north-eastern Tobago in
Trinidad and Tobago. Reports from Colombia are incorrect.
Population It is a common species across its range.
Habitat and Ecology A nocturnal species that lives on Heliconia vegetation over-hanging cascading streams about
2-6m above the water in tropical rainforest. The eggs are laid on the underside of leaves, and the larvae develop in
the water. It has been found only in mature, closed-canopy forest.
Major Threats In Venezuela, although some of its habitat is within protected areas, other areas are being lost due
to human settlement and agricultural expansion. There are no known threats to the species in Tobago.
Conservation Measures It occurs in the Parque Nacional Peninsula de Paria in Venezuela. The rainforest in which
this species occurs in Tobago is protected in the Little Tobago Wildlife Sanctuary. Taxonomic work is required to
investigate whether or not populations of this species from Tobago represent a distinct species.
Notes on taxonomy: It is possible that two species might be included in Hyalinobatrachium orientale in Venezuela, one being the
species from the type locality, and the other an undescribed form from Macizo del Turimiquire. Animals on Tobago might also belong
to a different species.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Cannatella, D.C. and Lamar, W.W. (1986), Duellman, W.E. (1977), Hardy, Jr, J.D. (1982),
Hardy, Jr, J.D. (1984), La Marca, E. (1992), La Marca, E. (1995b), La Marca, E. (1997), Murphy, J.C. (1997), Myers, C.W. and Donnelly,
M.A. (1997), Rivero, J.A. (1968a), Rivero, J.A. (1985), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Lynch, J.D. (1991a), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo,
M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Celsa Señaris, Enrique La Marca, Jerry Hardy