Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

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Threatened Amphibians of the World
CR Colostethus leopardalis Rivero, 1978
Critically Endangered A2ace; B2ab(v)
Order, Family: Anura, Dendrobatidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is known only from a very restricted
area near Páramo de Mucubají, Sierra de Santo Domingo, in estado
Mérida, in the Venezuelan Andes, from 2,435-3,300m asl.
Population It has not been seen in at least a decade, and its range
is very much reduced.
Habitat and Ecology It inhabits páramo grassland and sub-páramo
shrubland environments and cloud forest, the highest environments
in the Venezuelan Andes, resembling alpine tundra, but with daily
temperature extremes. It is usually found within grasses and frailejones
(Espeletia spp.), usually along and within streams.
Major Threats Introduced trout and possibly disease might be
threatening this species. This species shares its habitat with Atelopus
mucubajiensis, a páramo frog well known for having experienced a
dramatic population decline (La Marca and Reinthaler 1994; Lotters
1996; La Marca and Lotters 1997) probably due to chytridiomycosis,
and so this disease must also be suspected in C. leopardalis.
Conservation Measures There is a population within Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada (Mérida State), in the Venezuelan
Andes. Surveys are required to determine the population status of this species. Given the potential risk of
disease, there might be a need for the establishment of a captive-breeding programme.
Notes on taxonomy: We follow La Marca (1994a) in assigning this species to the genus Colosthethus, not Nephelobates.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2001), Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), La Marca, E. (1994a), La Marca, E. and Lötters, S. (1997), La
Marca, E. and Reinthaler, H.P. (1991), Lötters, S. (1996), Mijares-Urrutia, A. (1991), Péfaur, J.E. and Rivero, J.A. (2000), Rivero, J.A.
(1976), Vial, J.L. and Saylor, L. (1993)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Juan Elías García-Pérez
EN Colostethus mandelorum (Schmidt, 1932)
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Dendrobatidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is restricted to the Cerro
Turimiquire, a mountainous region shared between Monagas, Sucre,
and Anzoátegui States, in eastern Venezuela. It has been recorded
from 1,900-2,630m asl.
Population It is a common species.
Habitat and Ecology It inhabits cloud forest and sub-páramo shrubland.
The eggs are laid on land and when hatched the male carries
the larvae on his back to water, where they develop further.
Major Threats The main threat is habitat loss due to agriculture,
involving both crops and livestock, as well as road construction for
telecommunications installations.
Conservation Measures Its range includes a protected area for
a dam project (Zona Protectora Macizo Turimiquire), but the habitat
of this species is in need of much better protection.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Hardy, J.D. (1984), La Marca, E. (1993), La Marca, E. (1997), Péfaur, J.E. and Rivero, J.A. (2000),
Rivero, J.A. (1961), Rivero, J.A. (1982b), Vial, J.L. and Saylor, L. (1993)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Jesús Manzanilla
EN Colostethus mertensi (Cochran and Goin, 1964)
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Dendrobatidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is known from Cerro Munchique,
and Quintana (near Popayan in Cauca Department), between 2,100
and 2,350m asl, in Colombia.
Population It is a common species.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs on the ground next to streams in cloud
forests. It lays its eggs on the ground, which (when hatched), are
transported on the backs of the male to temporary ponds where they
develop further. It has not been recorded outside forest habitat.
Major Threats The major threats are deforestation for agricultural
development, the planting of illegal crops, logging, and human
settlement.
Conservation Measures The range of the species includes Parque
Nacional Natural Munchique.
Bibliography: Cochran, D.M. and Goin, C.J. (1964), Cochran, D.M. and Goin, C.J. (1970), Rivero, J.A. (1988), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M.,
Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: John Lynch, Fernando Castro
VU Colostethus murisipanensis La Marca, 1997
Vulnerable D2
Order, Family: Anura, Dendrobatidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Stable
Geographic Range This species is known only from the type locality,
stated to be “Murisipan-Tepui (05 53N, 62 04W)”, in the state of
Bolívar, Venezuela, at 2,350m asl.
Population It is known from only one specimen.
Habitat and Ecology The single specimen was collected under
a rock in tropical montane forest. Breeding habits are unknown,
although the larvae probably develop in streams.
Major Threats There are no current major threats, but fires, caused
by lightning, are a potential threat.
Conservation Measures Its range does not include any protected
areas. There is a need for further survey work to determine the
current population status of this species, and to monitor its status,
given that it is known only from one site.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), La Marca, E. (1996b), La Marca,
E. (1997)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Celsa Señaris