Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

240
Threatened Amphibians of the World
EN Bromeliohyla bromeliacia (K. Schmidt, 1933)
Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Hylidae
Country Distribution: Belize, Guatemala,
Honduras, Mexico
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Silviu Petrovan
Geographic Range This species occurs on the Atlantic versant of north-western Chiapas State, Mexico; central and
eastern Guatemala; the Maya Mountains of Belize; and north-western Honduras, at 350-1,790m asl.
Population It is known from single specimens in Belize and Mexico. It is uncommon in Guatemala, but it continues
to occur in suitable habitat, although some populations are in serious decline. In fact, some higher elevation populations
in Guatemala, where most of the range occurs, appear to have declined sharply although the species has not
disappeared; populations at lower elevations appear stable. It is relatively common in Honduras.
Habitat and Ecology It is found in bromeliads in premontane and lower montane wet forest. It breeds by larval
development. It is also found in leaf sheaths on banana trees, and tolerates some level of habitat disturbance.
Major Threats The main threat is deforestation, due to agriculture (both crops and livestock), and water pollution
which is taking place at higher elevations. The declines observed at high elevations, which have taken place even in
suitable habitat, could be due to chytridiomycosis.
Conservation Measures It is found in Parque Nacional Montaña de Cusuco and Parque Nacional Cerro Azul in
Honduras, and in the Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra de la Minas and Biotopo del Quetzal in Guatemala. Further research
is necessary to ascertain whether chytrid is a threat to this species.
Notes on taxonomy: This species was previously included in the genus Hyla but has recently been moved to the new genus Bromeliohyla
(Faivovich et al. 2005).
Bibliography: Campbell, J.A. (1998), Duellman, W.E. (2001), Faivovich, J. et al. (2005), Martinez-Coronel, M., Ramirez-Bautista, A. and
Vidal-Lopez, R. (1995), McCranie, J.R. and Wilson, L.D. (2002b), Schmidt, K.P. (1933)
Data Providers: Gustavo Cruz, Manuel Acevedo, Julian Lee
CR Bromeliohyla dendroscarta (Taylor, 1940)
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Hylidae
Country Distribution: Mexico
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Hylid Frogs of Middle America, 2001,
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Geographic Range This species is found on the Atlantic slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental and associated ranges
in Mexico. It is also found in central Veracruz and northern Oaxaca in Mexico. It occurs from 450-1,900m asl.
Population This has always been an uncommon species, but it appears to have gone into serious decline, and has
not been recorded since 1974. Recent surveys to locate it have been unsuccessful, and it might now be extinct.
Habitat and Ecology This species inhabits cloud forest habitats. It breeds and takes refuge in bromeliads.
Major Threats This species has disappeared in suitable habitat, probably due to chytridiomycosis. Deforestation and
alteration of the cloud forest are probably also major threats, as it requires bromeliads in mature trees to survive.
Conservation Measures The range of this species does not include any protected area. Additional survey work is
urgently needed to determine whether or not this species is still extant in its natural range. It is protected by Mexican
law under the “Special Protection” category (Pr).
Notes on taxonomy: This species was previously included in the genus Hyla but has recently been moved to the new genus Bromeliohyla
(Faivovich et al. 2005).
Bibliography: Duellman, W.E. (2001), Faivovich, J. et al. (2005), Lips, K.R. et al. (2004)
Data Providers: Georgina Santos-Barrera, Luis Canseco-Márquez
CR Charadrahyla altipotens (Duellman, 1968)
Critically Endangered A2ace
Order, Family: Anura, Hylidae
Country Distribution: Mexico
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Hylid Frogs of Middle America, 2001,
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Geographic Range This species is known from the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre del Sur de Oaxaca, and north
to the towns of San Gabriel and San Sebastián, in south-western Oaxaca, Mexico. It might occur a little more widely
than current records suggest.
Population This has always been a rare species, but it appears to have gone into serious decline, and has not been
recorded since the 1960s. Recent surveys to locate it have been unsuccessful, and it might now be extinct.
Habitat and Ecology This species occurs in pine-oak and cloud forests, and prefers rocky streams with abundant
vegetation as microhabitat. It presumably breeds in streams.
Major Threats This species has disappeared in suitable habitat, probably due to chytridiomycosis. The disappearance
of the fragments of cloud forest in Oaxaca, the most fragile habitat in Mexico, is also threatening this species.
At present this area is under extreme pressure from human population growth.
Conservation Measures The range of this species does not include any protected areas. While additional survey
work is urgently needed to determine whether or not this species is still extant in its natural range, protection of
the remaining cloud forest fragments is important to preserve the humid habitats for this species as well as other
amphibians. It is listed by the Mexican government in the category “Special Protection” (Pr).
Notes on taxonomy: This species was previously included in the genus Hyla but has recently been moved to the new genus Charadrahyla
(Faivovich et al. 2005).
Bibliography: Duellman, W.E. (2001), Faivovich, J. et al. (2005), Lips, K.R. et al. (2004)
Data Providers: Georgina Santos-Barrera, Luis Canseco-Márquez
EN Charadrahyla chaneque (Duellman, 1961)
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Hylidae
Country Distribution: Mexico
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Hylid Frogs of Middle America, 2001,
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Geographic Range This species is known from only three localities east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in northern
Chiapas and eastern Oaxaca, Mexico. The type locality is at 1,690m asl.
Population This is a common species within its restricted range.
Habitat and Ecology It only inhabits high-elevation cloud forests with cascading mountain streams. It presumably
breeds in streams.
Major Threats Habitat loss due to logging represents the main threat to this species.
Conservation Measures Its range includes the Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra del los Tuxtlas, but expanded protection
of cloud forest habitat in this region is needed. This species is protected by Mexican law under the “Special
Protection” category (Pr).
Notes on taxonomy: This species was previously included in the genus Hyla but has recently been moved to the new genus Charadrahyla
(Faivovich et al. 2005).
Bibliography: Duellman, W.E. (2001), Faivovich, J. et al. (2005), Mendelson III, J.R. and Campbell, J.A. (1999), Perez-Higareda,
G. (1981b)
Data Providers: Antonio Muñoz Alonso, Luis Canseco-Márquez