Taxonomic notes: Section empty

This species is known from the central Andes of Colombia, from Cauca, Huila, and Tolima Departments, between 1,950 and 3,000 m asl. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 8,090 km².

Before 1999 this was a common species, but it has only been recorded twice since then (once in 2001 and once in 2003) despite numerous searches. Since 2003, there has been little survey effort within the range, and no information is available on current population status; therefore, it is not known if declines are ongoing (O. Cortés pers. comm. August 2014). However, it is apparent that a serious decline has taken place in the past.  

It occurs on the ground near streams and also in open areas; it has not been recorded from anthropogenically disturbed habitats. The tadpoles develop in streams.

There are no reports of this species being utilized.

The major threats likely include chytridiomycosis, which has been implicated in catastrophic population declines in many other montane species of Atelopus, and habitat loss due to agricultural expansion (including the planting of illegal crops). Water pollution from agriculture is also a threat to the species. Climate change might also be a threat, but this needs to be investigated further.

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

This species occurs in the Roncevalles protected area (O. Cortés pers comm. August 2014). Further survey work is urgently needed to determine whether or not this species still survives. Additional habitat protection is also needed in view of ongoing habitat loss.

• 1.2 Resource & habitat protection

This species was once common, but is now very rare. It has not been seen in recent years; however, there has been little survey effort within the range. Given evidence of past declines and lack of current data, a precautionary approach is needed to the assessment of the species; from the lack of recent records, it is inferred that the species is possibly extinct or that an extant population is very small (<50 mature individuals). However, additional sampling effort is urgently needed before it can be declared Extinct or re-assessed under a different criterion.

• 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.