| Atelopus ardila | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Atelopus |
| Species: | A. ardila |
| Binomial name | |
| Atelopus ardila | |
Atelopus ardila is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. [1] [3] It has not been seen since 1992, and is believed to be possibly extinct.
Atelopus ardila was described in 2010. Previously, it was misidentified as Atelopus ignescens . Its specific name 'ardila' was given in honor of Colombian herpetologist María Cristina Ardila-Robayo, whose research led to the description of several new species in the genus Atelopus. [2]
Atelopus ardila is sexually dimorphic. Males are, on average, 35–40mm long (SVL) while females are slightly larger, 40–50mm long. In addition, females have long, slender legs compared to the much stouter legs of males. Both sexes have variable coloration, ranging from yellow, to red-orange, to almost black. [2]
As tadpoles, Atelopus ardila are black in coloration, and look similar to tadpoles of other species in their genus. [4]
Atelopus ardila is only known from its type locality and surrounding areas, the region between Galeras and Laguna de la Cocha in the Colombian Massif of Southern Colombia. They have been found under rocks and in rocky streams, as well as in densely wooded areas. [1] [2]
Analysis of the stomach contents of specimens of Atelopus ardila revealed that their diet comprises largely of leaf beetles and drosophilidae. They also eat members of the families Pteromalidae, Braconidae, Anthomyiidae, Muscidae, and Tephritidae in lesser amounts. [5]
As amphibians, Atelopus ardila exhibits amplexus. Amplexus in Atelopus ardila has been observed occurring year round, and can last a long time. A wild pair was observed in amplexus for 22 days, and pairs maintained in captivity have remained in amplexus for several months.
Tadpoles live in clear, mountain creeks until maturing. Though they were also seen year round, they were less abundant in the summer months. [6] [4]
The first known specimen was collected on August 2, 1965, by R. E. Smalley. The holotype was collected on February 25, 1984, by Patricia A. Burrowes and Benjamín del Castillo. Initially, they were believed to be Atelopus ignescens. Later on, it was believed that they represented a distinct subpopulation of the species. [7] After taxonomic review, Atelopus ardila was classed as a new species in 2010.
The species used to be considered common, but their population rapidly declined in the past few decades. The last confirmed specimen was collected in June 1989. Multiple searches throughout the mid 1990s failed to locate any individuals. Visual records indicate the presence of individuals in 1992, and there are unconfirmed visual records of the species by local people from 1994 and 2002. Searches conducted in the species' habitat between 2000 and 2004 also failed to find any individuals. The IUCN lists the species as Critically Endangered, and possibly extinct. The exact cause of the decline of Atelopus ardila is unknown, but disease, climate change, habitat loss, and impacts from nearby volcanoes are believed to have played roles. [1] [2]
Atelopus is a large genus of Bufonidae, commonly known as harlequin frogs or toads, from Central and South America, ranging as far north as Costa Rica and as far south as Bolivia. Atelopus species are small, generally brightly colored, and diurnal. Most species are associated with mid-to-high elevation streams.
Atelopus longirostris is a species of harlequin frog, a member of the family of true toads (Bufonidae). It has been recorded only in northern Ecuador. Records from Colombia probably represent different species. As of mid-2017, it is listed as extinct by the IUCN, but was rediscovered in 2016 after more than two decade with no sightings, likely because the IUCN last assessed it in 2004. The scientific name of this species means "long-snout" and the species has been named in Spanish as the jambato hocicudo. Common names longnose stubfoot toad, scrawny stubfoot-toad, and longnose sharlequin frog have been coined for it.
Atelopus balios, the Rio Pescado stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to southwestern Ecuador, with records from Pacific lowlands in Azuay, Cañar, and Guayas Provinces. It is a rare species that was already suspected to be extinct, but a single specimen was discovered in 2011 by a team from Conservation International during a hunt for missing amphibians. The decline in amphibian populations is well documented. The Atelopus balios is Critically Endangered as a result of the widespread amphibian Chytridiomycosis fungus that has decimated other amphibian populations. There are only 10 known findings of the tadpole, Atelopus balios.
Atelopus carbonerensis, also known as the Venezuelan yellow frog and La Carbonera stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Mérida Andes of Venezuela. Following an observation in 1998, it was feared extinct for nearly two decades until a single individual was sighted in 2014, followed by an observation of a mating pair in 2021.
The Guajira stubfoot toad or Carrikeri harlequin frog is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is about 5 cm (2.0 in) long and typically black, though some populations have orange coloration. This species is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range of northern Colombia. It is critically endangered because of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and habitat destruction due to agriculture. The species had not been seen from 1994 until it was rediscovered in early 2008.
Atelopus exiguus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Ecuador and only known from the area of its type locality in the Azuay Province of southern Ecuador, in the sub-páramo and páramo of Cordillera Occidental. Common name Mazán jambato frog has been proposed for it.
Atelopus famelicus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to Colombia. It is known from the Cordillera Occidental in Cauca and Valle del Cauca departments.
Atelopus ignescens, the Jambato toad or Quito stubfoot toad or Jambato harlequin frog, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the northern Andes of Ecuador. This once abundant species was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 2016. The specific name ignescens means "to catch fire," presumably in reference to the orange ventral color of this species.
Atelopus laetissimus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from the area of its type locality in the northwestern part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in the Magdalena Department.
Atelopus monohernandezii is a species of toads in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from the vicinity of its type locality on the western slope of the Cordillera Oriental, Santander Department. It has not been observed after 1982 and the remaining population is believed to be very small, if surviving at all.
Atelopus nahumae is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from humid montane forest of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in the Magdalena, La Guajira, and Cesar Departments.
Atelopus pachydermus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in the Andes of northern Peru and southern Ecuador. Records from Colombia reflect the vagueness of the stated type locality, "Neu-Granada", encompassing territory part of several present-day countries. Other records outside the current range refer to other species. The most recent record of this very rare and possibly extinct species is from around 1995. However, there is a need to reassess the status of this species because of confusion with Atelopus podocarpus.
Atelopus sernai is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the northern Andes of Colombia. Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Atelopus petersi is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Ecuador and is known from the Cordillera Oriental in the Napo Province and more provisionally, in the Chimborazo Province. The specific name petersi honors James A. Peters, an American zoologist who collected the first specimens of this species in 1962 and provided a description under the name Atelopus pachydermus. Common names Peters' stubfoot toad and Peters' jambato toad have been coined for it.
Atelopus onorei is a small species of bright yellow and green toads in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Ecuador and is only known from the vicinity of its type locality on the western slope of the Cordillera Occidental in the Azuay Province. It has not been seen since 1990 and may now be extinct, but it is possible that overlooked populations remain.
María Cristina Ardila-Robayo was a Colombian herpetologist. She was professor at the National University of Colombia, Bogotá, and worked closely with the Natural History Museum of the university. In 2010 she was credited as having described 28 new species of amphibians from Colombia; as of late 2018, the Amphibian Species of the World lists 31 valid species described by her. She also worked with caimans and crocodiles and lead biodiversity restoration projects.
Atelopus pastuso is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. It has not been seen since 1993, and is possibly extinct.
Atelopus podocarpus is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. It has not been seen since 1994, and is believed to be possibly extinct.
Atelopus gigas is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. It has not been seen since 1970 and is considered possibly extinct.
Atelopus orcesi is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. It has not been seen since 1988, and is believed to be possibly extinct.
