Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

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Threatened Amphibians of the World
VU Mannophryne trinitatis (Garman, 1887)
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Dendrobatidae
Country Distribution: Trinidad and Tobago,
Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Karl-Heinz Jungfer
Geographic Range This species is present in the Northern and Central Ranges of the island of Trinidad, in Trinidad
and Tobago. In Venezuela, populations are present in Península de Paria (Sucre state), Serranía del Turimiquire (Sucre-
Monagas states), and Serranía del interior, Miranda, Guarico, and Anzoatigui states. In Venezuela the species occurs
between 40 and 1,525m asl, and on Trinidad it can be found from montane areas down to sea level.
YELLOW-THROATED FROG
Population In Venezuela, it is considered to be common, while on Trinidad it is considered to be very common with
generally stable populations.
Habitat and Ecology Adults are found along densely shaded, narrow, shallow, slow-fl owing, clear water streams
in undisturbed montane and moist forests, where they engage in elaborate courtship and defensive behaviours. A
terrestrial species, it lays its eggs in leaf-litter and on rocks near streams and the adults carry the tadpoles on their
backs to the deeper stream pools. The populations in Tamana caves in central Trinidad are known to use the cave
ponds for their tadpoles. Tadpoles in other populations have also been found in still temporary pools far from streams.
The exact deposition site appears to be dependent on the presence of predators, with adults migrating significant
distances in search of predator free pools. These animals depend on the insects that eat bat guano for food.
Major Threats In Venezuela, the species is threatened by habitat degradation and destruction resulting from
small-scale agriculture. On Trinidad, it is locally threatened by domestic, agricultural, and some industrial water
pollution. On the southern slopes of the Northern Range in Trinidad, deforestation has resulted in fragmentation of
the species’ habitat.
Conservation Measures A number of protected areas are present within the range of this species. In Venezuela, it
is known to occur in the Parque Nacional Peninsula de Paria and Parque Nacional el Guacharo.
Notes on taxonomy: This form is probably a complex of more than one species. The populations in Venezuela almost certainly belong
to a different, undescribed, species (J. Manzanilla pers. comm.).
Bibliography: Alemán, C. (1952), Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Edwards, S.R. (1974b), Frost, D.R. (1985), Jowers, M.J. and Downie, J.R.
(2004), Kenny, J.S. (1969), La Marca, E. (1992), La Marca, E. (1994e), La Marca, E. (1995a), La Marca, E. (1997), Manzanilla, J., García-
París, M. and La Marca, E. (2002), Manzanilla, J., La Marca, E. and García-París, M. (2003), Mole, R.R. and Urich, F.W. (1894), Murphy,
J.C. (1997), Parker, H.W. (1933a)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Jesús Manzanilla, Jerry Hardy
EN Mannophryne yustizi (La Marca, 1989)
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Dendrobatidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© César Luis Barrio-Amorós / Fundación AndígenA
Geographic Range This species is known mainly from Yacambú and Terepaima National Parks in Lara State,
Venezuela. It has been recorded from 1,200-1,800m asl.
Population It is a common species and there is currently no evidence of any decline. Healthy populations were found
in April 2003 in Parque Nacional Yacambú.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs along streams and on the forest floor of montane moist and cloud forests. The eggs
are laid on land and the male protects the eggs. When they hatch, the male carries the larvae on his back to water
where they develop further.
Major Threats In some parts of the range, populations are affected by the extensive clearing of land for coffee
plantations (and specifi cally by the agro-chemicals associated with the plantations).
Conservation Measures Although it is protected in two Venezuelan Andean national parks (Yacambú and Terepaima
National Parks), some populations (in Cubiro and Guarico) live outside protected areas. Expanded protection of the
montane forest within the species’ range is recommended.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), La Marca, E. (1989), La Marca, E. (1992), La Marca, E. (1994e), La Marca, E. (1995a), La Marca,
E. (1995b), La Marca, E. (1997), Manzanilla, J., García-París, M. and La Marca, E. (2002), Manzanilla, J., La Marca, E. and García-París,
M. (2003), Myers, C.W., Paolillo, A. and Daly, J.W. (1991), Yustiz, E. (1996)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Juan Elías García-Pérez, Jesús Manzanilla
EN Nephelobates alboguttatus (Boulenger, 1903)
Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)
Order, Family: Anura, Dendrobatidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© César Luis Barrio-Amorós / Fundación AndígenA
Geographic Range This species is known from the Andes of Mérida State, Venezuela, from 1,600-3,090m asl.
Population It is a rare species and has been in decline in recent years.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in clear, fast-flowing streams in Andean cloud forests. The eggs are laid on land
and the male protects the eggs. When they are hatched, the male carries the larvae on his back to water where
they develop further.
Major Threats Some of the original environments occupied by this frog in the vicinities of the city of Mérida, in the
Cordillera de Mérida, have been drastically changed by human activities, particularly due to agricultural expansion,
for both crops and livestock. Much of the remaining habitat is severely fragmented. Introduced trout prey on the
larvae of this species. However, this species is also declining in undisturbed habitats, which suggests an additional
threat, possibly disease (such as chytridiomycosis).
Conservation Measures Some populations are protected within national parks (Sierra Nevada and Sierra de
la Culata). However, the existing protected areas network requires expansion to ensure the protection of suitable
cloud forest habitats for this species. Further research is required to establish the reasons for the species’ decline in
apparently suitable habitat, and to determine whether chytrid poses a threat.
Notes on taxonomy: Colostethus infl exus was synonymized with this species by Frost (1985), but was revived in Myers, Paolillo and
Daly (1991) and La Marca (1997). Although officially still in the synonymy of Nephelobates alboguttatus, C. infl exus might prove to be
a distinct species.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Frost, D.R. (1985), La Marca, E. (1984), La Marca, E. (1985b), La Marca, E. (1992), La Marca, E.
(1994a), La Marca, E. (1995b), La Marca, E. (1997), Lutz, A. (1927), Myers, C.W., Paolillo, A. and Daly, J.W. (1991), Péfaur, J.E. and Rivero,
J.A. (2000), Piñero, J. and Durant, P. (1993), Piñero, J. and La Marca, E. (1996), Rivero, J.A. (1961), Vial, J.L. and Saylor, L. (1993)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Juan Elías García-Pérez
EN Nephelobates duranti (Pefaur, 1985)
Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Dendrobatidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is only known from the type locality
and the vicinity: Páramo de la Culata, in the district of Libertador, in
the state of Mérida, Venezuela, at 2,600-3,000m asl.
Population It is an uncommon species.
Habitat and Ecology It inhabits clear, fast-flowing streams in Andean
cloud forests and sub-páramo shrubland. The eggs are laid on
land and the male protects the eggs. When they are hatched, the male
carries the larvae on his back to water where they develop further.
Major Threats Livestock farming is a major threat to the species’
habitat, which is now severely fragmented. Introduced trout also
prey on the larvae of this species.
Conservation Measures A population probably occurs within
Parque Nacional Sierra de La Culata. Continued and strengthened
management of this area, and expansion of the existing protected
areas network to include other tracts of montane forest habitat,
are necessary.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Diaz, A., Péfaur, J. and Durant, P. (1997), Frost, D.R. (1985), La Marca, E. (1992), La Marca, E.
(1994a), La Marca, E. (1995b), La Marca, E. (1997), Mijares-Urrutia, A. and La Marca, E. (1997b), Péfaur, J.E. (1985), Rivero, J.A. (1988),
Vial, J.L. and Saylor, L. (1993)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Juan Elías García-Pérez