Atelopus chiriquiensis

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Atelopus chiriquiensis
Chiriqui harlequin frog - Atelopus chiriquiensis.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Atelopus
Species:
A. chiriquiensis
Binomial name
Atelopus chiriquiensis
Shreve, 1936

Atelopus chiriquiensis, the Chiriqui harlequin frog [2] or Lewis' stubfoot toad, is an extinct species of toad in the family Bufonidae that was found in the Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica and western Panama (Province and Bocas del Toro Provinces). [1] [3] Its natural habitats were stream margins in lower montane wet forests and rainforests. Its elevational range was 1,400–2,500 m (4,600–8,200 ft) asl. [1]

Contents

Description

Atelopus chiriquiensis was a moderately sized toad: males measure 28–34 mm (1.1–1.3 in) in snout–vent length and females 36–49 mm (1.4–1.9 in). Colouring was highly variable and usually different between males and females. They had weakly developed and relatively inconspicuous poison glands scattered over the head and dorsum; nevertheless, they produced tetrodotoxin and aminoacid analog chiriquitoxin , a potent neurotoxin. [2]

Anatomy

The toad lacks a middle ear and uses other means to transfer sound to the inner ear. The structure responsible for this is the body wall overlying the lung. [4] [5] [6]

Conservation status

This once locally abundant species has not been seen in Costa Rica since 1996 and is considered extinct in the country. It is also thought to have disappeared from Panama as there are no records since late 1990s. The decline was probably linked to chytridiomycosis. Habitat loss and introduced trout were also threats. [1] The IUCN Red List now considers Atelopus chiriquiensis extinct. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Atelopus</i> Genus of amphibians

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.

<i>Atelopus varius</i> Species of amphibian

Atelopus varius, the Costa Rican variable harlequin toad or clown frog, is a small Neotropical true toad from the family Bufonidae. Once ranging from Costa Rica to Panama, A. varius is now listed as critically endangered and has been reduced to a single remnant population near Quepos, Costa Rica, and has only relict populations in western Panama. Recent variation in air temperature, precipitation, stream flow patterns, and the subsequent spread of a pathogenic chytrid fungus linked to global climate change have been the leading cause of decline for A. varius. A. zeteki has been considered a subspecies of A. varius, but is now generally considered a separate species.

<i>Atelopus balios</i> Species of amphibian

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guajira stubfoot toad</span> Species of amphibian

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.

<i>Atelopus certus</i> Species of amphibian

Atelopus certus, the Darien stubfoot toad or Toad Mountain harlequin frog, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to Panama.

<i>Atelopus cruciger</i> Species of amphibian

Atelopus cruciger, also known as the Veragua stubfoot toad or Rancho Grande harlequin frog, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Venezuela and is known from the central Venezuelan Coastal Range. The species was already suspected to be extinct because, despite considerable effort, none had been found since 1986. However, in 2003, a small population was found, with few other locations discovered later. It is mainly threatened by chytridiomycosis. It is locally called sapito rayado.

Atelopus farci, the forest stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from its type locality, Granjas del Padre Luna, in Albán, Cundinamarca, on the western flank of the Cordillera Oriental at about 2,100 m (6,900 ft) above sea level. Its natural habitat is cloud forest where it lives in streams.

<i>Atelopus glyphus</i> Species of amphibian

Atelopus glyphus, the Pirri harlequin frog or Pirri Range stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae found in Colombia and Panama within the Northwestern Andean montane forests. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers.

<i>Atelopus ignescens</i> Species of amphibian

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.

<i>Atelopus limosus</i> Species of amphibian

Atelopus limosus, the limosa harlequin frog is an endangered species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to Panama. Its natural habitats are stream banks in tropical moist lowland forests and rivers of the Chagres watershed in central Panama.

Atelopus muisca is an extinct species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Colombia. Its natural habitats were subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Atelopus petriruizi, more commonly known as the painted stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. Endemic to Colombia, the toad's natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. Threatened by habitat loss, the Ateopus petriruizi is currently classified as critically endangered, and was placed on the IUCN red list in 2017. Currently, there may be less than 49 remaining mature A. Petriruizi.

The green and red venter harlequin toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae, endemic to Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, and intermittent rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Atelopus planispina is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the eastern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador. According to the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, it is restricted to the Napo Province, although other sources suggest somewhat wider range. It has not been seen since 1985 and might already be extinct. Common names Planispina's harlequin frog, Napo stubfoot toad, and flat-spined atelopus have been coined for it.

Atelopus senex is an extinct species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It was endemic to Costa Rica and known from the Cordillera Central and Cordillera de Talamanca at elevations of 1,100–2,200 m (3,600–7,200 ft) asl.

The scarlet harlequin toad or sapito arlequin de Soriano is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. The scarlet harlequin toad was a bright orange, with males growing up to 38-41.5mm and females growing up 42-50mm. It is threatened by habitat loss, and may already be extinct. The toad is among the 25 “most wanted lost” species that are the focus of Re:wild’s “Search for Lost Species” initiative.

The Tamá harlequin frog or Venezuela stubfoot toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Páramo de Tamá on the Venezuelan-Colombian border and occurs in Apure and (likely) Táchira states of Venezuela and Norte de Santander Department on the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia.

The three-coloured harlequin toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Atelopus nocturnus, also known as the nocturnal harlequin toad, is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Antioquia, Colombia, and only known from its type locality in Anorí, in the northern Cordillera Central. The specific name nocturnus refers to the nocturnality of this species, which is unusual among Atelopus.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Atelopus chiriquiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T54498A54340769. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T54498A54340769.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Atelopus chiriquiensis". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Atelopus chiriquiensis Shreve, 1936". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. Jaslow, Alan P. (1979). "Vocalization and Aggression in Atelopus chiriquiensis (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)". Journal of Herpetology. 13 (2): 141–145. doi:10.2307/1563919. ISSN   0022-1511. JSTOR   1563919.
  5. Jaslow, Alan P.; Lombard, R. Eric (1996). "Hearing in the Neotropical Frog, Atelopus chiriquiensis". Copeia. 1996 (2): 428–432. doi:10.2307/1446859. ISSN   0045-8511. JSTOR   1446859.
  6. Lindquist, E. D.; Hetherington, T. E.; Volman, S. F. (1998-07-01). "Biomechanical and neurophysiological studies on audition in eared and earless harlequin frogs (Atelopus)". Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 183 (2): 265–271. doi:10.1007/s003590050254. ISSN   1432-1351. PMID   9693994. S2CID   22011712.
  7. Ssc), IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (IUCN (2019-09-10). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Atelopus chiriquiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-12-10.