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This species is known from two localities: the type locality of Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquideas, and from Murri in La Blanquita, both in Antioquia Department, in north-western Colombia, between 1,300 and 2,000m asl.

It is uncommon. There do not appear to be any confirmed records since 1973, but it is not known if this is indicative of a decline, or simply a lack of survey effort.

It occurs on vegetation alongside streams in sub-Andean forests. It has not been recorded outside forest. Its breeding habits are not known, though breeding is likely to take place in streams.

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The major threat is likely to be chytridiomycosis, leading to a catastrophic population decline, as has occurred in many other montane species of Atelopus. Forest destruction for the creation of fruit plantations is occurring within the species' range.

• 8.1.2 Named species
• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming

The type locality is within Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquideas. More research into the species' distribution range, ecological requirements, and population status is needed, in particular to determine if it occurs outside the vicinity of the two known localities; given the threat of chytridiomycosis, successful conservation measures will probably need to include the maintenance of any surviving individuals in captivity.

• 3.4.1 Captive breeding/artificial propagation

Listed as Critically Endangered because of a projected population decline, estimated to be more than 80% over the next ten years, inferred from declines in other high altitude Atelopus species in the same region, probably due to chytridiomycosis.

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• Cannatella, D.C. 1981. A new Atelopus from Ecuador and Colombia. Journal of Herpetology: 133-138.
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• Lötters, S. 1996. The Neotropical Toad Genus Atelopus. Checklist - Biology - Distribution. Vences, M. and Glaw, F. Verlags GbR, Köln, Germany.
• Pounds, J.A., Bustamante, M.R., Coloma, L.A., Consuegra, J.A., Fogden, M.P.L., Foster, P.N., La Marca, E., Masters, K.L., Merino-Viteri, A., Puschendorf, R., Ron, S.R., Sánchez-Azofeifa, G.A., Still, C.J. and Young, B.E. 2006. Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming. Nature 439: 161-167.
• Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Hernández-Camacho, J.A. 1978. Una nueva especie colombiana de Atelopus (Amphibia: Bufonidae). Caldasia: 181-197.
• Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. 1996. Lista actualizada de la fauna de Amphibia de Colombia. Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales 20(77): 365-415.