Near Threatened Amphibian Species - Amphibian Specialist Group

Near Threatened Amphibian Species 611Some populations might also be declining due to fires. However, these threats appear to be relatively minor at present.It occurs in Parque Nacional Condorito and the Reserva Hídrica Provincial de Pampa de Achala.Bibliography: Acosta, L.E., Pereyra, F.E. and Pizzi, R.A. (1995), Avila, L.J. and Priotto, J.W. (1995), Di Tada, I.E. et al. (1980), Di Tada,I.E. et al. (1996), Di Tada, I.E., Martino, A. and Sinsch, U. (2001), Jofre, G.M. (2003), Lavilla, E.O. et al. (2000), Lavilla, E.O. and Cei, J.M.(2001), Rahn, I.M. (1982), Sinsch, U., di Tada, I.E. and Martino, A.L. (2001)Data Providers: Esteban Lavilla, Ismael di TadaBufo blombergi Myers and Funkhouser, 1951This species occurs in northern Ecuador (in Esmeraldas and Carchi Provinces), and in Colombia on the western flankof the Cordillera Occidental in Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Choco Departments, between 200 and 550m asl.It is locally common. It lives in closed lowland tropical rainforest, coming close to human habitation in some areas.Breeding takes place in temporary and permanent pools, sometimes close to rivers (where young animals in particularare often found). The major threats it faces are deforestation for agricultural development and cultivation of illegalcrops, logging, mining, the introduction of exotic species, human settlement, and pollution resulting from the sprayingof illegal crops. In Ecuador, there is commercial export of animals for pharmacological research and the pet trade. InEcuador, its range overlaps with the Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas, and it also occurs in protected areas inColombia. Legislation is needed to regulate the international trade and the harvesting of this species.Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Bringsoe, H. (1990), Hoogmoed, M.S. (1989), Howard, C.J. (1981), Morales, M. et al. (2002),Myers, G.S. and Funkhouser, J.W. (1951), Obst, F.J. (1979), Pawley, R. (1988), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D.(1996), Seidel, B. (1979)Data Providers: Wilmar Bolívar, Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Diego Cisneros-HerediaBufo boreas Baird and Girard, 1852WESTERN TOADThis species occurs along the Pacifi c Coast of North America from southern Alaska (Wiedmer and Hodge 1996) toBaja California, and ranges eastward to the Rocky Mountains in west-central Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, Utah(Ross et al. 1995), Colorado (Hammerson 1999), and (formerly) northern New Mexico (Degenhardt, Painter and Price1996). It is absent from most of the desert south-west (Stebbins 1985b). Its altitudinal range extends from sea levelto at least 3,640m asl. The total adult population size of the species is unknown but is likely to exceed 100,000. Itis still common in much of its range. The Rocky Mountain populations in Colorado and Wyoming have undergonea drastic decline since the 1970s (Corn, Stolzenburg and Bury 1989; Hammerson 1989, 1992, 1999; Carey 1993;Muths et al. 2003). It has also declined greatly in the Yosemite area of the Sierra Nevada, California (Drost andFellers 1996). It is apparently undergoing localized declines in Yellowstone National Park (Peterson, Koch and Corn1992), Montana (Reichel and Flath 1995), and elsewhere (Olson 1989). This species is found in a wide variety ofhabitats including desert springs and streams, meadows and woodlands and mountain wetlands. It is also knownfrom around ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers and streams. It digs its own burrow in loose soil oruses those of small mammals, or shelters under logs or rocks. The eggs and larvae develop in shallow areas ofponds, lakes, or reservoirs, or in pools of slow-moving streams. The extent of threat across the species’ range isnot known with certainty. The decline in the Southern Rocky Mountains is not due to acidifi cation of breedinghabitats (Corn and Vertucci 1992). Carey (1993) hypothesized that some environmental factor or synergistic effectsof more than one factor might stress the toads, causing suppression of the immune system or indirectly causingimmunosuppression by causing elevated secretion of adrenal cortical hormones; immunosuppression, coupled withthe apparent effect of cold body temperatures on the ability of the immune system to fi ght disease, might lead toinfection by Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria (which causes “red-leg”) or other infectious agents and subsequentlyto death of individuals and the extirpation of populations. Die-offs in the southern Rockies have been associatedwith chytrid fungus infections (Muths et al. 2003). Eggs are highly susceptible to the pathogenic fungus Saprolegniaferax, which might be introduced during fi sh stocking (Kiesecker and Blaustein 1997). Another possibility is thatdeclines are related to the sensitivity of eggs to increased levels of ultraviolet radiation (Blaustein et al. 1994),but see Corn and Muths (2002) for an alternative viewpoint. In the Cascade Range of Oregon, persistent predationof adults by ravens during the toad breeding season appears to have contributed signifi cantly to some populationdeclines (Olson 1992). Possibly signifi cant predation by birds has also been observed in Colorado and Idaho. Thedecline might be related, at least in part, to habitat destruction and degradation, water retention projects, predationby, and competition with, native and non-native species, fi shery management activities, or other factors, butthese factors have not been adequately assessed. This species occurs in many national parks, wildlife refuges, andwilderness areas in the US where habitat destruction is not a major threat. In Mexico, it is found within ParqueNacional Sierra de San Pedro Martir. It is listed as an endangered species in the state of Colorado and is warrantedbut precluded from US federal endangered species status.Bibliography: Behler, J.L. and King, F.W. (1979), Blackburn, L., Nanjappa, P. and Lannoo, M.J. (2001), Blaustein, A.R. et al. (1994),Campbell, J.B. and Degenhardt, W.G. (1971), Carey, C. (1993), Corn, P.S. and Muths, E. (2002), Corn, P.S. and Vertucci, F.A. (1992), Corn,P.S., Stolzenburg, W. and Bury, R.B. (1989), Drost, C.A. and Fellers, G.M. (1996), Frost, D.R. (1985), Green, D.M. (1997), Hailman, J.P.(1984), Hammerson, G.A. (1982), Hammerson, G.A. (1989), Hammerson, G.A. (1992), Hammerson, G.A. (1999), Herreid, II, C.F. (1963),Hodge, R.P. (1976), Johnson, P.T.J. et al. (2001), Kiesecker, J.M. and Blaustein, A.R. (1997), Kiesecker, J.M., Blaustein, A.R. and Miller,C.L. (2001b), Livo, L.J. and Yeakley, D. (1997), Muths, E. et al. (2003), Muths, E. and Nanjappa, P. (2005), NNHP (1999), Nussbaum, R.A.,Brodie, Jr., E.D. and Storm, R.M. (1983), Oliver, G.A. (1997), Olson, D.H. (1989), Olson, D.H. (1992), Peterson, C.R., Koch, E.D. and Corn,P.S. (1992), Reichel, J.D. and Flath, D. (1995), Ross, D.A. et al. (1995), Samallow, P.B. (1980), Smits, A.W. (1984), Stebbins, R.C. (1985b),Welsh Jr, H.H., Hodgson, G.R. and Lind, A.J. (2005), Wiedmer, M. and Hodge, R.P. (1996)Data Providers: Geoffrey Hammerson, Georgina Santos-Barrera, Erin MuthsBufo brongersmai Hoogmoed, 1972BRONGERSMA’S TOADThis species is restricted to western, southern and eastern Morocco, ranging into northern Western Sahara and northwesternAlgeria, from sea level to 1,600m asl. It can be abundant in suitable habitat, but is in decline as its habitatsare being lost. It is present in semi-arid, hilly areas with Argania spinosa, Euphorbia, and graminaceous vegetation.It may be found in ploughed fields (Schleich, Kästle and Kabisch 1996), and hides beneath stones during the day. Thetemporary ponds that it breeds in are mostly located in rocky areas, and it has been observed in artificial waterbodies(such as dammed temporary rivers). It is threatened through much of its range by increased aridity, pollution anddrainage of its breeding habitats. This species is present in Parc National de Souss-Massa but is not protected bynational legislation. It can be bred successfully in captivity.Bibliography: Bogaerts, S. (2001), Bons, J. and Geniez, P. (1996), Gallix, T. (2002), Geniez, P. et al. (2004), Geniez, P., Mateo, J.A. andBons, J. (2000), Grillitsch, B., Grillitsch, H. and Splechtna, H. (1989), Guillaume, C.P. and Bons, J. (1982), Hoogmoed, M.S. (1972), Mateo,J.A. et al. (2003), Salvador, A. (1996), Schleich, H.H., Kästle, W. and Kabisch, K. (1996), Schouten, J.R. and Thevenot, M. (1988)Data Providers: Alfredo Salvador, David Donaire-Barroso, El Hassan El Mouden, Tahar Slimani, Philippe Geniez, José MateoBufo campbelli Mendelson, 1994This species is found at low and moderate altitudes in northern and eastern Guatemala, southern Belize, and extremewestern Honduras, from 100-1,080m asl. It probably occurs more widely. It is still found in good numbers in appropriatehabitats in Belize and Honduras, and is still common in the Sierra de Santa Cruz. It lives in and near streams inpristine forest in mountainous regions (in Honduras, in lowland moist and premontane wet forest). It breeds primarilyin streams but has also been found breeding in pools in Guatemala. In Honduras and Guatemala, it is threatenedby habitat destruction, and in Belize, by hurricanes. Much of its range is protected in forest reserves of the MayanMountains, in Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá and the Reserva de Manantiales Montañas del Mico, and ParqueNacional Cerro Azul in Honduras.Bibliography: Attum, O. and Eason, P. (1999), Campbell, J.A. (1998), Campbell, J.A. (2001), Franklin, C.J. and Franklin, J. (1999), Lee,J.C. (1996), Lee, J.C. (2000), Mendelson III, J.R. (1994), Mendelson III, J.R. (1997b)Data Providers: Julian Lee, Manuel Acevedo, Larry David Wilson, Paul WalkerBufo cryptotympanicus Liu and Hu, 1962This species is known from southern China in Guangxi and Guangdong Provinces, from 450-1,870m asl, and from onlytwo specimens in northern Viet Nam. One of these was collected on Mount Fan Si Pan near Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province(Liu et. al. 2000), and the other was collected at 1,900m asl in O Quy Ho, Sa Pa District, which is very close to, buton the other side of, Mount Fan Si Pan. It is likely to occur more widely than currently recorded. It is uncommon. Thisspecies inhabits forest, and has not been found in open areas. Its breeding habits are not known, but it presumablybreeds in water by larval development. The threats that it faces are relatively unknown although presumably habitatdestruction and degradation are important. All known localities of this species are within protected areas. In VietNam these are within Hoang Lien Son National Park. Further documentation of the species’ extent of occurrence,population status and ecological requirements in Viet Nam is needed.Bibliography: Fei, L. et al. (1999), Le Nguyen Ngat, Nguyen Van Sang, and Ho Thu Cuc (2001), Liu, C.-C. and Hu, S.-Q. (1962), Liu, W.et al. (2000), MacKinnon, J. et al. (1996)Data Providers: Raoul Bain, Annemarie Ohler, Michael Wai Neng Lau, Yuan ZhigangBufo hypomelas Boulenger, 1913This species is known from the Pacific lowlands of Colombia in Choco Department, and from two localities in northwesternEcuador (in Esmeraldas Province), and is presumed to exist in between these two areas. It occurs between10 and 500m asl. It is a rare species, and there have been no records of this species in Ecuador since 1984. It liveson the ground in leaf-litter close to water sources, in lowland tropical moist forest. All records of this species comefrom mature forest. There is no information on its breeding biology, although reproduction is presumably by larvaldevelopment in water. The major threats are deforestation for agricultural development (including the cultivation ofillegal crops), logging, and human settlement, and pollution resulting from the spraying of illegal crops. It has beenfound in a few protected areas in Colombia.Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Boulenger, G.A. (1913), Cochran, D.M. and Goin, C.J. (1970), Duellman, W.E. and Schülte, R.(1992), Hoogmoed, M.S. (1989), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)Data Providers: Wilmar Bolívar, Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Diego Cisneros-HerediaBufo lonnbergi Andersson, 1911This species appears to be endemic to the Kenyan Highlands above 1,800m asl, where it occurs on both sides of theRift Valley, and on Mount Kenya and in the vicinity of Limuru. Records from Nairobi require confirmation. A relatedspecies has been found in the Udzungwa Mountains of southern Tanzania, but this has not so far been named. Itis a reasonably common species. There is some evidence of a decline at one site, but there is no information as towhether or not such a decline might have been more widespread (M. Tandy pers. comm.). It is a species of montanegrassland, moorland and forest patches, and it survives in agricultural land. It breeds in small, shallow permanent andsemi-permanent pools in open areas. There is little information on its threats, but although it is somewhat adaptable,it is possibly affected by the intensification of agriculture, overgrazing by livestock, and expanding human settlements.It occurs in Aberdares and Mount Kenya National Parks.Taxonomy: We follow Poynton (1997) in considering Bufo mocquardi and B. nairobiensis as distinct from this species. However, M.Tandy (pers. comm.) considers both B. mocquardi and B. nairobiensis to be synonyms of B. lonnbergi.Bibliography: Grandison, A.G.C. (1972b), Lötters, S. et al. (2004), Poynton, J.C. (1997), Poynton, J.C. (2003b), Tandy, M. and Keith,R. (1972)Data Providers: Mills Tandy, Stefan Lötters, John Poynton, Kim HowellBufo mexicanus Brocchi, 1879SOUTHWESTERN TOADThis species occurs in extreme central-eastern Sonora and western Chihuahua along the Sierra Madre Occidental,south to western Durango and extreme north-eastern Sinaloa, Mexico. This is a rare species. It inhabits pristineconifer forests where it can be commonly found along low rivers and streams, where it breeds. It is not present inaltered habitats. Disturbance, and any kind of alteration of forested areas that might cause the desiccation of streamsand soils, are threats to this species. This species occurs in at least two protected areas. Urgent protection of theforested areas along the Sierra Tarahumara area is recommended.Bibliography: Gergus, E.W.A. (1998), Price, A.H. and Sullivan, B.K. (1988)Data Providers: Georgina Santos-Barrera, Luis Canseco-MárquezBufo pageoti Bourret, 1937This species is known from north-east and western Myanmar, extreme northern Viet Nam and Gaoligongshan in Yunnan(Tengchong, Baoshan and Lushui Counties), China, from 1,900-2,500m asl. It probably occurs more widely thancurrent records suggest. This species is rare and is seldom found. It inhabits forested mountain areas, and probablyalso occurs in the surrounding farmland. It is a stream-breeding amphibian. Forest loss due to agricultural expansionis an ongoing threat. The range of the species includes some protected areas: in China it is known from GaoligongshanNational Nature Reserve, and both of the populations in Myanmar are within protected areas.Taxonomy: Bufo burmanus was synonymized with B. pageoti by Dubois and Ohler (1999). The genus Torrentophryne (Yang, Liu and Rao1996) was synonymized with Bufo by Liu et al. (2000).Bibliography: Bourret, R. (1942), Dubois, A. and Ohler, A. (1999), Liu, W. et al. (2000), MacKinnon, J. et al. (1996), The ComprehensiveScientifi c Expedition to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (1997), Yang, D.-T., Liu, W. and Rao, D. (1996)Data Providers: Peter Paul van Dijk, Guinevere Wogan, Annemarie Ohler, Lu Shunqing, Yang DatongBufo parietalis Boulenger, 1882This species is relatively widespread in the Western Ghats, India, from 400-900m asl. Dutta (1997) lists uncertainrecords from the Eastern Ghats, which require further verification. It is a locally common species. It is a terrestrialtoad associated with leaf-litter, rocks and other ground cover of moist tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest.It is not known if it can occur in degraded habitat. Breeding takes place in slow-moving stretches of streams. Themain threat to this species is deforestation caused by both regional infrastructure development (roads, dams, andurbanization) and the collection of wood and timber for subsistence use by local people. It has been recorded fromIndira Gandhi National Park (in Tamil Nadu), Agasthyamala Hills of the Neyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley NationalPark (both in Kerala), and might also occur within other protected areas in the region.Bibliography: Biju, S.D. (2001), Chanda, S.K. (2002), Dubois, A. and Ohler, A. (1999), Dutta, S.K. (1997), Inger, R.F. et al. (1984)Data Providers: S.D. Biju, Sushil Dutta, Karthikeyan Vasudevan, S.P. Vijayakumar, Chelmala Srinivasulu, Gajanan DasaramjiBhuddhe