Taxonomic notes: This species was previously confused with Atelopus longirostris and Atelopus lynchi, according to Rivero and Morales (1995).

This species is known from two localities: the type locality (La Costa), and El Tambito, both localities on the western slope of the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes, in Cauca Department, Colombia, between 1,300 and 1,580m asl.

It is a terrestrial species found in montane forest, and which has not been recorded outside forest. Its breeding habits are not known, but presumably it breeds in streams like other species of the genus.

It is known from only a few specimens, and, despite survey work, has not been recorded since 1993.

Section empty

The most serious risk to this species is chytridiomycosis, which has had a devastating impact on other high-altitude species of Atelopus. There is also a threat of pollution resulting from fumigation of the illegal crops grown in Parque Nacional Natural Munchique.

• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming
• 8.1.2 Named species
• 9.3.3 Herbicides and pesticides

The two localities are on the border of Parque Nacional Natural Munchique, where it has been recorded from the private protected area of the El Tambito Proselva Foundation. Further survey work is required to determine the current population status of this species in the wild. Given the threat of chytridiomycosis, any surviving individuals might need to be maintained in captivity.

• 3.4.1 Captive breeding/artificial propagation
• 1.2 Resource & habitat protection

Listed as Critically Endangered because of a drastic population decline, estimated to be more than 80% over the last ten years, inferred from the apparent disappearance of most of the population (probably due to chytridiomycosis).

• Acosta-Galvis, A.R. 2000. Ranas, Salamandras y Caecilias (Tetrapoda: Amphibia) de Colombia. Biota Colombiana: 289-319.
• La Marca, E., Lips, K.R., Lötters, S., Puschendorf, R., Ibáñez, R., Rueda-Almonacid, J.V., Schulte, R., Marty, C., Castro, F., Manzanilla-Puppo, J., Garcia-Perez, J.E., Toral, E., Bolaños, F., Chaves, G., Pounds, J.A. and Young, B. 2005. Catastrophic population declines and extinctions in Neotropical harlequin frogs (Bufonidae: Atelopus). Biotropica: 190-201.
• 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.
• Rivero, J.A. and Morales, V.R. 1995. Description of a new species of Atelopus from Departamento del Cauca, Colombia. Brenesia: 29-36.
• 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.
• Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Vélez and Ardila-Robayo, M.C. 1995. Una nueva especie de Atelopus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron 1841 (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae) de la Cordillera Occidental de Colombia. Caldasia: 113-118.