Atelopus pulcher

Atelopus pulcher
Conservation status

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Atelopus
Species: A. pulcher
Binomial name
Atelopus pulcher
Boulenger, 1882[2]

Atelopus pulcher is a species of toad in the Bufonidae family. It is endemic to eastern Peru where it is found in the Huallaga River drainage; its range might extend to Ecuador.[3] Its natural habitats are lowland and premontane tropical forests. It is a diurnal and terrestrial species that breeds in streams.[1]

Description

Atelopus pulcher measures about 35 mm (1.4 in) in snout–vent length. It has a slender body with quite smooth skin. It is blackish brown above, with various light green markings.[4]

Breeding might occur throughout the year. The tadpoles grow to about 6 mm (0.24 in) in body length and 14 mm (0.55 in) in total length. The tadpole is dorso-ventrally flattened and has a large ventral suction disc behind its mouth. It is similar to other Atelopus tadpoles except that its upper beak is shorter than the lower one.[5]

Conservation

Atelopus pulcher is threatened by chytridiomycosis and habitat loss. It is relatively rare species that is declining in abundance and has disappeared from many known localities.[1] It is sometimes collected for the pet trade, and this might contribute to local declines.[6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lötters, Stefan (2006). "Atelopus pulcher". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  2. "Atelopus pulcher". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Atelopus pulcher Boulenger, 1882". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  4. Boulenger, George Albert (1882). Catalogue of the Batrachia Salientia s. Ecaudata in the collection of the British Museum (2 ed.). London: British Museum (Natural History). p. 154.
  5. Gascon, Claude (1989). "The tadpole of Atelopus pulcher Boulenger (Annura, Bufonidae) from Manaus, Amazonas". Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 6: 235–239. doi:10.1590/s0101-81751989000200007.
  6. La Marca, E.; Lips, K. R.; Lotters, S.; Puschendorf, R.; Ibanez, R.; Rueda-Almonacid, J. V.; Schulte, R.; Marty, C.; Castro, F.; Manzanilla-Puppo, J.; Garcia-Perez, J. E.; Bolanos, F.; Chaves, G.; Pounds, J. A.; Toral, E.; Young, B. E. (2005). "Catastrophic population declines and extinctions in Neotropical harlequin frogs (Bufonidae: Atelopus)". Biotropica 37 (2): 190–201. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2005.00026.x.