Taxonomic notes: Specimens discussed by Cochran and Goin (1970) were subsequently named as Atelopus echeverrii.

This species is known only from the type locality: Alto de Caicedo, in Antioquia Department, Colombia, between 1,800 and 2,670m asl.

The current population status of this species is unknown, but it was not uncommon when last collected. There has not been any recent survey work for this species.

It occurs along forested streams in sub-Andean and Andean forests. It is restricted to forest habitats requiring canopy cover over the stream to maintain suitable conditions. Breeding and larval development take place in streams.

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The most serious risk to this species is chytridiomycosis, which has had a devastating impact on other high-altitude species of Atelopus. Forests within the range of the species are being cleared for the planting of fruit trees, as well as illegal crops.

• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming
• 8.1.2 Named species

The known range of the species is close to Parque Nacional Natural Orquideas. Further survey work is needed to determine the population status of this species, and to establish whether or not it occurs outside the vicinity of the type locality. In view of the threat of chytridiomycosis, ex-situ populations might need to be established.

• 1.2 Resource & habitat protection
• 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.

• Acosta-Galvis, A.R. 2000. Ranas, Salamandras y Caecilias (Tetrapoda: Amphibia) de Colombia. Biota Colombiana: 289-319.
• Cochran, D.M. and Goin, C.J. 1970. Frogs of Colombia. United States National Museum Bulletin, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
• Cocroft, R.B., McDiarmid, R.W., Jaslow, A.P. and Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. 1990. Vocalizations of eight species of Atelopus (Anura: Bufonidae) with comments on communication in the genus. Copeia: 631-643.
• 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. 1963. Five new species of Atelopus from Colombia, with notes on other species from Colombia and Ecuador. Caribbean Journal of Science: 103-124.
• Rivero, J.A. and Serna, M.A. 1985. Nota sobre el Atelopus nicefori Rivero, con la description de una nueva especie de Atelopus (Amphibia: Bufonidae) de Colombia. Caribbean Journal of Science: 79-82.
• 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.