Near Threatened Amphibian Species - Amphibian Specialist Group

Near Threatened Amphibian Species 623Phyllonastes lochites (Lynch, 1976)This species is known from moderate altitudes on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes from the Cordillera del Cóndorin Peru, and the Cordillera de Cutucú in Ecuador (in Pastaza, Zamora Chinchipe, and Morona Santiago Provinces). Ithas an altitudinal rage of 900-1,700m asl. It was recently recorded from the Alfonso Ugarte military post in AmazonasDepartment, Cordillera del Cóndor, Peru, at 1,138m asl. It is rarely encountered, possibly due to its secretive habits.The holotype was collected during the day in leaf-litter in cloud forest (Lynch 1976d), and it also occurs in old growthand secondary forest. Reproduction occurs via direct development. Its range in the Cordillera del Cóndor is not significantlythreatened since people are averse to entering the area due to the land mines left during the Ecuador-Peruborder war in 1995. Its geographic range overlaps Parque Nacional Sangay in Ecuador.Bibliography: Almendariz, A. (1997), Lynch, J.D. (1976d)Data Providers: Diego Cisneros-Heredia, Ana Almandáriz, Jorge Luis Martinez, Daniel Neirapresent in the muddy bottoms of streams. There is no information on its breeding biology, though it presumablytakes place by larval development in streams. It is affected by ongoing habitat loss and degradation, as a result oflogging and agricultural expansion. It is also threatened by water pollution and aquaculture. Despite these threatsits populations appear to be currently stable. However, chytridiomycosis is a potential future threat that could causeserious declines, but this has not yet been confirmed in this species. It occurs in Parque Nacional y Área Natural deManejo Integrado Cotapata, and Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Nacional Apolobamba. Given the possible threatof chytridiomycosis, this species should be monitored closely.Taxonomy: This species was formerly considered to be a synonym of Telmatobius marmoratus (Vellard 1970). It was resurrected as afull species by De la Riva et al. (2000). T. ifornoi is included as a synonym of this species, following De la Riva (2004).Bibliography: De la Riva, I. (2004), De la Riva, I. et al. (2000), Lavilla, E. and Ergueta, P. (1995), Lavilla, E. and Ergueta, P. (1999),Vellard, J. (1970)Data Providers: Claudia Cortez, Steffen Reichle, Ignacio De la Riva, Jörn KöhlerPleurodema bibroni Tschudi, 1838FOUR-EYED FROGTelmatobius jelskii (Peters, 1873)This species is known from Uruguay (in the departments of Canelones, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo,Rocha, San José and Treinta y Tres, Artigas, Durazno, and Río Negro) and from Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), from 0-1,100masl. This species is rare and occurs in widely scattered populations. It is probably extinct in Montevideo Departmentbecause of habitat destruction. It occurs in coastal sand plains, open savannahs, rocky outcrops, grasslands and openmontane habitats, and probably does not tolerate habitat disturbance. Breeding takes place in temporary pools. Themain threat is habitat destruction due to encroaching cultivation of crops, establishment of pine plantations, andencroaching human settlements. It occurs in Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula.Taxonomy: This form is probably a complex of more than one species. It was long confused with Pleurodema thaul, until the work ofDonoso-Barros (1969).Bibliography: Braun, C.A.S. (1973), Braun, P.C. and Braun, C.A.S. (1980), Klappenbach, M.A. and Langone, J.A. (1992), Langone, J.A.(1994), Lavilla, E.O. et al. (2000), Maneyro, R. and Langone, J.A. (2001)Data Providers: Débora Silvano, Esteban Lavilla, Paulo Garcia, Jose LangonePleurodema kriegi (Müller, 1926)This species is endemic to the Pampa de Achala, Cordoba Province, Argentina, from 1,800-2,600m asl. It is abundantwithin its small range, although it is seen only during the breeding season. It occurs in montane grasslands and associatedrocky outcrops. Adults live under rocks or in abandoned rodent holes outside the breeding season. It reproducesexplosively during the first rains in November and December. Pairs spin a gelatinous nest attached to vegetation intemporary pools, or sometimes in backwater pools of streams. Significant threats to this species have previouslyincluded extensive cattle ranching and the associated alteration of water sources. However, the recent declarationof protected areas within its range means that the future of this species now looks much more secure. It occurs inParque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito and the Reserva Hídrica Provincial de Pampa de Achala.Bibliography: Di Tada, I.E. et al. (1996), Lavilla, E.O. et al. (2000), Lavilla, E.O. and Cei, J.M. (2001)Data Providers: Esteban Lavilla, Ismael di TadaProceratophrys bigibbosa (Peters, 1872)This species is known from the Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and central districts of Misiones Province, Argentina, from300-1,200m asl. It has never been recorded as being abundant, and one population in Sao Francisco de Paula hasdisappeared. It inhabits Araucaria forests in mountainous regions, and breeds in small streams. Outside the breedingseason it occurs in leaf-litter. The eggs may be deposited under stones on streambeds. A major threat to this speciesis habitat loss due to deforestation, for smallholder livestock ranching, and the establishment of pine plantations.It is also threatened by pollution of soil and water due to agricultural practices and industrial pollution with organicwastes. This species’ range overlaps with several protected areas.Taxonomy: Proceratophrys palustris is similar to this species.Bibliography: Kwet, A. and Di-Bernardo, M. (1999), Kwet, A. and Faivovich, J. (2001), Lavilla, E.O. et al. (2000), Lavilla, E.O. and Cei,J.M. (2001)Data Providers: Débora Silvano, Axel Kwet, Paulo Garcia, Julian FaivovichRupirana cardosoi Heyer, 1999This species is restricted to the region of Chapada Diamantina, in the northern part of the Espinhaço Range in thestate of Bahia, eastern Brazil, at around 1,200m asl. This species is common within its small range. It lives on thebanks of small streams with white sand and rocks, in high-altitude grassy vegetation, and breeds in temporary streamsand ponds. The major threats are habitat loss due to expanding cultivation of crops and livestock grazing, and fire. Itoccurs in Parque Nacional Chapada da Diamantina.Bibliography: Heyer, W.R. (1999)Data Providers: Flora Junca, Débora SilvanoStefania satelles Señaris, Ayarzaguena and Gorzula, 1997 “1996”This species is known from Aprada tepui (tepuis are Venezuelan flat top mountains) at 2,500m asl, and from Angasimatepui (Adanta) and Upuigma tepui (El Castillo), from between 2,000 and 2,100m asl. The mountain chains ofAngasima tepui and Upuigma tepui are not physically connected, and lie about eight to 10km apart. Aprada tepuiis likewise separated from the Chimantá massif, and lies about 20km to the north-east of it. This species thereforehas a disjunct distribution. It is common on these summits. This is a nocturnal frog found on open, rocky surfaces,and in crevices and depressions close to watercourses. It carries its eggs and juveniles on its back, and breeds bydirect development. There are no known threats to the species’ habitat at present. This species occurs within ParqueNacional Canaima. In addition, Venezuelan flat top mountains (tepuis) are protected by law, so all the species occurringon them are protected.Taxonomy: This genus has recently been moved from the family Hylidae (Faivovich et al. 2005). Some specimens of this speciesresemble Stefania ginesi, but in these cases their general aspect is that of a somewhat slimmer and slightly smaller frog. Specimensfrom Terekeyuren (Murisipan) tepui and Kamarkawarai tepui, from the Los Testigos massif, closely resemble S. satelles, but were notassigned to this species pending further specimens becoming available.Bibliography: Barrio, C. (1998), Duellman, W.E. and Hoogmoed, M.S. (1984), Faivovich, J. et al. (2005), La Marca, E. (1997), MacCulloch,R.D. and Lathrop, A. (2002), Señaris, J.C., Ayarsagüena, J. and Gorzula, S. (1997)Data Providers: Celsa Señaris, Enrique La MarcaTelmatobius bolivianus Parker, 1940This species is known from much of the central Andes in Peru (from the departaments of Ayacucho, Huancavelica andJunín), from 2,700-4,500m asl. It was previously common, but has undergone declines. It is a semi-aquatic riparianfrog, and may be found in muddy beds of streams among shrublands and grasslands. It has been found in ditches onarable land. Breeding takes place in streams. This species is locally affected by harvesting for both food and traditionalmedicine, and by water pollution (from agrochemicals and domestic waste). Telmatobius populations living at highaltitudes might be particularly prone to becoming infected with chytridiomycosis, although this disease has yet to bereported from this species. It might be present in the Reserva Chacamarca although this requires confirmation. There isa need to regulate its harvesting and to reduce the local water pollution. Given the possible threat of chytridiomycosisthis species should be monitored closely.Bibliography: Rodríguez, L.O., Cordova, J.H. and Icochea, J. (1993), Sinsch, U. (1986), Sinsch, U. (1990), Sinsch, U., Salas, A.W. andCanales, V. (1995)Data Providers: Javier Icochea, Ulrich Sinsch, Edgar LehrTelmatobius simonsi Parker, 1940This species is endemic to the Bolivian Andes, where it has been recorded from the departments of Chuquisaca,Cochabamba and Santa Cruz (Köhler 2000a), from 1,000-2,800m asl. It is locally common, although it is apparently indecline. It is an aquatic species, occurring in both open and forest habitats, in inter-Andean valleys. It can be foundat night by the sides of roads, in waterways or trenches, or in ponds and small streams (Köhler 2000a). There is noinformation on its breeding biology, though it presumably takes place by larval development in water. It is probablydeclining because of water pollution, and habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural development, logging, andlivestock grazing. Telmatobius populations living at higher altitudes might be particularly prone to becoming infectedwith chytridiomycosis, so this disease might be a potential threat for this species in the future. It occurs in ParqueNacional El Palmar and Parque Nacional Amboró. Given the possible threat of chytridiomycosis there is a need forclose monitoring of the population status of this species.Taxonomy: Populations from the La Siberia area, previously considered to belong to Telmatobius simonsi, have recently been describedas T. sibiricus (De la Riva and Harvey 2003).Bibliography: De la Riva, I. and Harvey, M.B. (2003), Köhler, J. (2000a), Parker, H.W. (1940)Data Providers: Claudia Cortez, Steffen Reichle, Ignacio De la Riva, Jörn KöhlerThoropa saxatilis Cocroft and Heyer, 1988This species occurs in the southernmost part of the Atlantic forest in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grandedo Sul, southern Brazil, from 300-1,000m asl. It is rarely collected, although it was found in 2001, and it appearsto have disappeared from some localities. This species lives in forested areas on rocky cliffs; eggs are depositedunder waterfalls on rocks. Some populations of this species have been affected by changes in watercourses, andby sedimentation caused by road construction, as well as by general forest loss. However, these factors do notfully account for the recorded declines. Like amphibians in some other parts of the wet tropics, it appears to havedisappeared from areas of apparently suitable habitat, and chytridiomycosis cannot be ruled out as a threat, eventhough this disease has not yet been confi rmed from Brazil. This species occurs in Parque Nacional da Serra Geraland Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra. Given the possible threat of chytridiomycosis, there is a need for closemonitoring of the population status of this species.Bibliography: Cocroft, R.B. and Heyer, W.R. (1988), Garcia, P.C.A. and Vinciprova, G. (1998)Data Providers: Paulo GarciaAdelotus brevis (Günther, 1863)LIMNODYNASTIDAETUSKED FROGThis Australian endemic has a disjunctive distribution, occurring in the Clarke Range (mid-eastern Queensland), thenfrom Shoalwater Bay (mid-eastern Queensland) south along the coast to Moss Vale (mid-eastern New South Wales),and inland to Blackdown Tableland and Carnarvon Gorge. It was formerly common across a broad altitudinal rangebut at present it is common only at altitudes of less than 400m asl. There is no information on the status of inlandpopulations of this species. Elswhere, it is now absent from some areas of apparently suitable habitat. For example,it has not been recorded along the Great Dividing Range in recent surveys. Upland populations in northern New SouthWales have also declined, and the species is listed as threatened in the region. There is no published informationon its overall population size, structure, genetics or dynamics. This species is found in wet forest and dry forestenvirons usually along streams, but also around dams. See Katsikaros and Shine (1997) for studies on diet, habitatuse, mating systems and sexual dimorphism. Breeding takes place in streams and ponds. Unpigmented eggs are laidin a foam nest hidden from the light, and development is usually complete within 71 days. The major threat to thisspecies is loss and degradation of its habitat through agricultural and urban development. Other significant threatsare the introduced predatory fi sh Gambusia holbrooki, and the spread of weeds. Dead frogs that have suffered fromchytridiomycosis have been found in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. The range ofthe species includes several protected areas. Research into the spread of chytrid fungus and education on methodsof minimizing and preventing its spread is also needed as a conservation measure.Bibliography: Barker, J., Grigg, G. and Tyler, M. (1995), Czechura, G.V. (1986b), Hines, H., Mahony, M. and McDonald, K. (1999),Katsikaros, K. and Shine, R. (1997), Martin, A.A. (1967)Data Providers: Harry Hines, Ed Meyer, Jean-Marc Hero, David Newell, John ClarkeThis species is known only from the Yungas forests of La Paz Department, Bolivia, from 2,000-3,000m asl. Telmatobiusifornoi, known only from Chuspipata, in Nor Yungas Province, La Paz Department, at 3,050m asl, is now considered tobe a synonym (Lavilla and Ergueta 1999). This is the most common and widespread Telmatobius species in Bolivia.It is an aquatic species that occurs in fast-flowing rivers and streams in cloud forests and Yungas forest. It is often