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This species is known only from the type locality in the Páramo de Palacio, Cundinamarca, Colombia, at an altitude of 3,000-3,300m asl.

This species was once abundant, but it has not been seen since 1993, despite repeated visits to the site.

It lives in páramo and does not tolerate habitat destruction. Breeding and larval development take place in fast-flowing streams.

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Although not proven, the most likely cause of the decline of this species is chytridiomycosis, which has had a devastating impact on other high-altitude species of Atelopus. It is also likely to be threatened by fires set by cattle ranchers. In addition, introduced trout prey upon tadpoles in streams.

• 8.1.2 Named species
• 7.1.3 Trend Unknown/Unrecorded
• 8.1.1 Unspecified species

Occurs in Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza. Survey work is needed to determine the 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. There is also a need to control populations of trout within the National Park.

• 3.4.1 Captive breeding/artificial propagation
• 2.2 Invasive/problematic species control

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); and because its Area of Occupancy is less than 10 km2, all individuals are in a single location, and there is continuing decline in the number of mature individuals.

• 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.
• Osorno Muñoz, M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. 2001. Una nueva especie de Atelopus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron 1841 (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae) de la Cordillera Oriental de Colombia. Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales: 133-139.
• 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.