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This species is known from the type locality, Serrania Las Baldias, and from one other locality, Belnira, Paramo Morron, both of which are in Antioquia Department, in Colombia, between 2,800 and 3,100m asl.

It is not a common species, and recent surveys have not found any specimens at the type locality; a decline has also been observed at the other known locality. The most recent record of the species was apparently in 2000.

It occurs on vegetation along streams in natural forest edge in the high Andes, and has not been recorded from disturbed habitats. Breeding and larval development 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. Other major threats include habitat loss, due to agricultural expansion (illegal crops), water pollution from agriculture, and possibly climate change.

• 9.3.4 Type Unknown/Unrecorded
• 11.5 Other impacts
• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming
• 8.1.2 Named species

The range of the species is not within any protected areas. Further survey work is required to determine the population status of this species and the limits of its range. In view of the threat of chytridiomycosis, the status of this species should be closely monitored, and ex-situ populations should be established.

• 3.4.1 Captive breeding/artificial propagation
• 1.1 Site/area protection

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

• Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Acosta-Galvis, A. 2000. Anfibios III. In: Rangel (ed.), Colombia Diversidad biótica de la región de vida paramuna, pp. 902. Bogotá, Colombia.
• 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.
• Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. and Osorno-Muñoz, M. 1994. Tres nuevas especies de Atelopus A.M.C. Dumeril and Bibron 1841 (Amphibia: Bufonidae) de la Cordillera Central de Colombia. Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales: 165-179.
• 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.