IUCN Red List Category: CR A2e (Draft)
Taxonomy
| Animalia | Chordata | Vertebrata | Amphibia | Anura | Bufonidae | Atelopus | Atelopus monohernandezii |
Taxonomic notes: Section empty
Geographic Range
This species is found in Santuario de Fauna y Flora Guanentá Alto Río Fonce, Río Cañaverales, Santander Department, Colombia, at 1,700-2,000m asl.
Population
During the course of multiple visits undertaken in 1979-1982, this species was found to be common. There have been no subsequent surveys for the species, with the exception of one survey in 1992 when this species was not recorded, suggesting a serious decrease.
Habitat
It is an inhabitant of cloud forest, with breeding and larval development taking place in streams. It tolerates disturbed forest.
Threats
The most serious risk to this species is chytridiomycosis, which has had a devastating impact on other high-altitude species of Atelopus.
Conservation Actions
It occurs in the Santuario de Fauna y Flora Guanentá Alto Río Fonce. Further survey work is required to determine the biology and population status of this species. Given the threat of chytridiomycosis, successful conservation measures will probably need to include the maintenance of any surviving individuals in captivity.
Red List Rationale
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.
Bibliography
- Ardila-Robayo, M.C., Osorno-Muñoz, M. and Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. 2002. Una nueva especie del genero Atelopus A.M.C. Dumeril & Bibron 1841 (Amphibia: Bufonidae) de la Cordillera Oriental de Colombia. Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales: 133-139.
- 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.
- 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.
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