Near Threatened Amphibian Species - Amphibian Specialist Group

638Threatened Amphibians of the Worldscarcity of required coarse woody debris on the forest floor may be counteracted to some degree by existing andproposed forest management plans for the Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) and Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphusmarmoratus; Thomas et al. 1993).Taxonomy: This species has been separated from Aneides ferreus (Jackman 1998).Bibliography: Behler, J.L. and King, F.W. (1979), Blackburn, L., Nanjappa, P. and Lannoo, M.J. (2001), Corkran, C.C. and Thoms, C.(1996), Davis, T.M. (2002a), Davis, T.M. (2002b), Davis, T.M. and Gregory, P.T. (1993), Jackman, T.R. (1998), Leonard, W.P. et al. (1993),Mahoney, M.J. (2001), McKenzie, D.S. and Storm, R.M. (1970), Nussbaum, R.A., Brodie, Jr., E.D. and Storm, R.M. (1983), Stebbins, R.C.(1985b), Stelmock, J.J. and Harestad, A.S. (1979), Thomas, J.W. et al. (1993), Wake, D. (1965), Welsh Jr, H.H., Hodgson, G.R. and Lind,A.J. (2005), Welsh, H.H., Jr. and Wilson, R.A. (1995)Data Providers: Geoffrey Hammerson, Kristiina OvaskaBatrachoseps robustusWake, Yanev and Hansen, 2002KERN PLATEAU SALAMANDERThis species is known from about three dozen sites from 1,615-2,800m asl in the southern Sierra Nevada, California,USA: in Kern Plateau, Tulare County, the western margin of the Owens Valley, Inyo County, and the Scodie Mountains,Kern County (Wake, Yanev and Hansen 2002). The total adult population size is unknown but is likely to be at leastseveral thousand. Extensive fieldwork by Wake, Yanev and Hansen (2002) yielded more than 350 specimens. Thehabitat is of limited extent, especially the springs of the Kern Plateau and Scodie Mountains. Its population trendis unknown, but very likely to be relatively stable. Wake, Yanev and Hansen (2002) mentioned no evidence of anydeclines. It can be found along small permanent creeks and springs with riparian vegetation in arid wooded mountains,typically under stones and wood (Wake, Yanev and Hansen 2002). It breeds terrestrially by direct development. Thisspecies is vulnerable to habitat degradation through capping of springs by man, or other alterations of spring waterhabitat. Its habitat is easily altered by intrusion by man. Flash floods also pose a natural threat. These threats tendto be very localized, however, and overall this species is not significantly threatened under current conditions. TheKern Plateau and Scodie Mountain populations are on United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service land,but the level of protection might be inadequate.Bibliography: Stebbins, R.C. (1985b), Wake, D.B., Yanev, K.P. and Hansen, R.W. (2002)Data Providers: Geoffrey HammersonBolitoglossa borburata Trapido, 1942This species is restricted to the central part of the Venezuelan coastal mountain range in Aragua, Carabobo and YaracuyStates, Venezuela, where it has been recorded from 800-1,300m asl. It is naturally rare. It inhabits montane cloud forestand breeds by direct development (the eggs are laid in bromeliads). There are minimal threats to its habitat at present.Its range includes protected areas such as Parque Nacional Henri Pittier and Parque Nacional San Esteban.Taxonomy: Specimens reported from Sierra San Luis, in the state of Falcón, Venezuela, might represent a different taxon (Mijares-Urrutia and Arends 2000).Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Brame, A.H. and Wake, D.B. (1963b), La Marca, E. (1994d), Manzanilla, J. (2001), Manzanilla,J. et al. (1995), Manzanilla, J. et al. (1996), Mijares-Urrutia, A. and Arends, A. (2000), Péfaur, J.E. and Rivero, J.A. (2000), Trapido, H.(1942), Vial, J.L. and Saylor, L. (1993)Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Jesús ManzanillaBolitoglossa cuchumatana (Stuart, 1943)This species is restricted to the departments of El Quiché and Huehuetenango, Guatemala, in the Cordillera de losCuchumatanes at 1,200-2,500m asl. It is quite common but there is little recent information on its population status,although at least eight populations are known. It occurs in cloud forest and can survive in degraded habitats. Individualshave been found on the ground, under bark, and in arboreal bromeliads. Breeding is by direct development. Themain threat to this species is loss of its habitat through agricultural encroachment. Although it can tolerate somehabitat degradation, it does not live in open agricultural habitats. Much of its range is included in the proposedParque Nacional Cuchumatán. Surveys are needed to gather more information on its population status, distribution,and threat status.Bibliography: Campbell, J.A. (2001), Elias, P. (1984), Wake, D.B. (1987), Wake, D.B. and Brame, A.H. (1963)Data Providers: David Wake, Manuel AcevedoBolitoglossa dofleini (Werner, 1903)This species ranges from extreme northern Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, and Cayo District in southern Belize, tonorth-central Honduras. In Honduras it is known from Quebrada Grande in Copan Department, Sierra de Merendonwest of San Pedro Sula, Cortes Department, and Portillo Grande in Yoro Department. It occurs from 50-1,370m asl,and probably occurs more widely within the general distribution than currently recorded. It is extremely commonin some places within its restricted range. It lives in premontane wet forest, and also successfully in disturbedhabitats such as cardamom plantations. The females tend to live on the ground under logs, while the males arearboreal. It breeds by direct development. This species is potentially threated by the international pet trade, inwhich it features signifi cantly, and since this species takes 10-12 years to mature such trade could easily belocally unsustainable. An additional potential threat to this species is chytridiomycosis, which has recently beenreported in animals that were imported into Belgium. However, the origin of the infection (whether from the wild,or from other captive animals) is not known. One of the sites in Honduras where this species is found is at theedge of Parque Nacional Cusuco, and in Guatemala it occurs in Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá and the Reservade Manantiales Montañas del Mico. Given the potential threat of chytridiomycosis populations of this speciesshould be monitored carefully.Bibliography: Campbell, J.A. (1998), Campbell, J.A. (2001), Lee, J.C. (1996), Lee, J.C. (2000), McCoy, C.J. (1991), McCranie, J.R. andWilson, L.D. (2002b), McCranie, J.R., Wake, D.B. and Wilson, L.D. (1996), Meyer, J.R. and Wilson, L.D. (1971), Pasmans, F., Zwart, P. andHyatt, A.D. (2004), Taylor, E.H. (1944), Wilson, L.D. (1979)Data Providers: Gustavo Cruz, Larry David Wilson, Randy McCranie, Manuel Acevedo, David Wake, Julian LeeBolitoglossa flaviventris (Schmidt, 1936)This species ranges from the Pacific slopes of southern Chiapas, Mexico, to south-western Guatemala, from sea levelto 700m asl. It is likely to occur more widely in Guatemala than has so far been recorded. It is not uncommon, buthas probably declined. It occurs in subtropical lowland areas of mixed forest, and also in banana plantations and theedges of cane fields in riparian areas. Breeding is by direct development. This species is threatened by habitat lossarising from increasing urbanization, settlement by refugees, and expanding agricultural cultivation and livestockgazing. Although it is tolerant of modified habitats, the level of habitat disturbance is extremely severe throughoutmost of its range, and it probably cannot survive in very open areas. It is not known from any protected areas. Asurvey to evaluate the population status of this species is required.Bibliography: Campbell, J.A. (2001), García-París, M., Parra-Olea, G. and Wake, D.B. (2000)Data Providers: Gabriela Parra-Olea, David Wake, Manuel AcevedoBolitoglossa hartwegi Wake and Brame, 1969This species is known from Cerro Zontehuitz, San Cristobal de las Casas, and Chamula Districts, north-central Chiapas,Mexico, and from at least three populations in the Cordillera de los Cuchumatanes and the Sierra Madre, Guatemala,from 1,200-2,500m asl. It is a reasonably common species. It inhabits coniferous and oak forest often associatedwith limestone outcrops. It is a crevice-dweller sometimes found beneath flakes of rock on ledges, or under the barkof logs on the ground and less frequently in arboreal bromeliads. This species can persist in degraded habitats,and it breeds by direct development. The main threats to this reasonably adaptable species are the alteration andclear-cutting of its habitat due to increasing urbanization, the settlement of refugees, and expanding cultivation andlivestock grazing. It occurs in the Reserva Ecológica Huitepec run by Pronatura near San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico.It is not known from any protected areas in Guatemala.Bibliography: Bille, T. (1998), Campbell, J.A. (2001), Elias, P. (1984), Parra-Olea, G. and Garcia-Paris, M. (1998), Parra-Olea, G., García-París, M. and Wake, D.B. (1999), Parra-Olea, G., Garcia-Paris, M. and Wake, D.B. (2004), Wake, D.B. (1987), Wake, D.B. and Brame, A.H.(1969), Wake, D.B. and Lynch, J.F. (1988)Data Providers: Gabriela Parra-Olea, David Wake, Manuel AcevedoBolitoglossa helmrichi (Schmidt, 1936)This species is known only from the mountainous regions of south-western Alta Verapaz and Baja Verapaz Departments,Guatemala, from 1,000-2,290m asl. It can be locally common. This species lives in cloud forests and also incoffee plantations shaded by bananas. It tends to be arboreal, occurring under bark and in bromeliads, and it breedsby direct development. This species is threatened by changes in agricultural practices since although it can persistin shade-grown coffee plantations, it cannot survive in more open areas (which tend to lose humidity and becometoo dry), and there is now a tendency to halt coffee farming in favour of other agricultural activities, most of whichare resulting in more open situations unsuitable for this species. It occurs in Biotopo del Quetzal and the Reservade la Biósfera Sierra de las Minas.Bibliography: Campbell, J.A. (2001), Elias, P. (1984), Wake, D.B. (1987), Wake, D.B. and Brame, A.H. (1963), Wake, D.B. and Brame,A.H. (1969), Wake, D.B. and Lynch, J.F. (1976), Wake, D.B. and Lynch, J.F. (1982)Data Providers: Manuel Acevedo, David WakeBolitoglossa lincolni (Stuart, 1943)This species occurs on the central plateau of Chiapas, Mexico, and in several mountainous areas in western Guatemala,including the upper slopes of the Guatemalan Plateau close to the Mexican border, Vulcan Tajumulco, Montanas deQuilco, and the south-western and eastern Sierra de los Cuchumatanes. Its altitudinal range is 2,200-3,000m asl.It is locally common, for example at Quilco and San Cristobal. It is expanding on Vulcan Tajumulco downwards intoformer cloud forest habitat at the expense of Bolitoglossa hartwegi. This species is largely terrestrial, living in lowvegetation, under bark, and in bromeliads. It seems to be more of a generalist than other nearby congeners, andit can survive to some degree in degraded vegetation. Breeding is by direct development. A serious threat to thisspecies is the complete clearance of forest due to logging, and expanding agricultural cultivation, livestock grazing,and human settlement. Although it is reasonably adaptable, it does not survive when habitats become very open. Ithas not been recorded from any protected areas.Bibliography: Campbell, J.A. (2001), Elias, P. (1984), Parra-Olea, G., García-París, M. and Wake, D.B. (1999), Wake, D.B. (1987), Wake,D.B. and Brame, A.H. (1963), Wake, D.B. and Lynch, J.F. (1976), Wake, D.B. and Lynch, J.F. (1982), Wake, D.B. and Lynch, J.F. (1988),Wake, D.B., Yang, S.Y. and Papenfuss, T.J. (1980)Data Providers: Manuel Acevedo, David WakeBolitoglossa platydactyla (Gray, 1831)This species ranges widely from southern San Luis Potosi southward through southern Veracruz to north-westernChiapas, Mexico, where it occurs below 1,100m asl. It was formerly quite common, but is now hard to find. It livesin tropical forests and savannahs, and can survive in modified habitats such as cities, farmland, banana plantationsand areas of coffee cultivation. Breeding is by direct development. Although it is generally adaptable, thetransformation of the landscape into very open habitats probably causes a general drying of microhabitats to thedetriment of this species. It occurs in several protected areas and is protected by Mexican law under the “SpecialProtection” category (Pr).Bibliography: García-París, M., Parra-Olea, G. and Wake, D.B. (2000), Parra-Olea, G., Papenfuss, T.J. and Wake, D.B. (2001), Perez-Higareda, G. (1981a), Wake, D.B. (1987)Data Providers: Gabriela Parra-Olea, David WakeBolitoglossa walkeri Brame and Wake, 1972This species occurs from the department of Valle del Cauca, extending to the department of Cauca (Munchique), onthe Oriental slope of the Cordillera Occidental, in Colombia, from 1,980-2,050m asl. It is a very common species. Itoccurs on herbaceous vegetation, epiphytes and fallen leaves, inside cloud forests with high humidity, and it hasalso been recorded from disturbed forest edges such as roadsides in forest. The details of its breeding habits are notknown. There are no major threats to this species at present. Some of its populations are within Parque NacionalNatural Munchique and Parque Nacional Natural Farallones de Cali.Taxonomy: This species is a complex of more than one species.Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Brame, A.H. and Wake, D.B. (1972), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch,J.D. (1996)Data Providers: Fernando Castro, Maria Isabel Herrera, John LynchChiropterotriton priscus Rabb, 1956This species is known from several locations around Cerro Potosi near Ojo de Agua, north-west to Galeana town,Nuevo Leon, north-eastern Mexico, above 3,000m asl. The most recent surveys indicate that this species is stillpresent and abundant. It lives terrestrially in pine and pine-fir forest, and its preferred microhabitats are under fallenlogs and under bark. It can also live in somewhat disturbed habitat. Breeding is by direct development. The habitatof this species is probably relatively secure, although it is at risk from logging. This species is not known from anyprotected areas, although it is protected by Mexican law under the “Special Protection” category (Pr).Bibliography: Darda, D. (1994), Liner, E.A. (1998a), Parra-Olea, G., García-París, M. and Wake, D.B. (1999), Rabb, G.B. (1956), Wake, D.B. (1987)Data Providers: Gabriela Parra-Olea, David WakeDesmognathus abditusAnderson and Tilley, 2003CUMBERLAND DUSKY SALAMANDERThis species is restricted to the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee, USA, at 400-700m asl, from just south of theCumberland Mountains near Wartburg, Morgan County, south to near Tracy City, Grundy County. There is no informationavailable on the population status of this species. It is found near streams on this forested plateau. Individuals