Atelopus ignescens

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Atelopus ignescens
Atelopus ignescens 2019.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. ignescens
Binomial name
Atelopus ignescens
(Cornalia, 1849)
Synonyms

Phryniscus ignescensCornalia, 1849
Phryniscus laevisGünther, 1858
Atelopus carinatusAndersson, 1945

Contents

Atelopus ignescens, the Jambato toad or Quito stubfoot toad or Jambato harlequin frog, [2] is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the northern Andes of Ecuador. [1] [3] [4] This once abundant species was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 2016. [1] [5] [6] [7] The specific name ignescens means "to catch fire," presumably in reference to the orange ventral color of this species. [8]

Taxonomy

A closely related, perhaps undescribed species might exist in Colombia. [3] [9] Alexander G. Ruthven believed Atelopus ignescens to be the closest relative of the Guajira stubfoot toad ( Atelopus carrikeri ). [10] Later studies have indicated that its closest relative is an undescribed species from central Ecuador (Bolívar and Chimborazo Provinces). [4]

Description

Original drawing by Albert Charles Lewis Gunther in 1858 Atelopus ignescens.jpg
Original drawing by Albert Charles Lewis Günther in 1858

Males measure on 34–41 mm (1.3–1.6 in) and females 36–48 mm (1.4–1.9 in) in snout–vent length. The body is robust with long limbs and truncate snout. The dorsal coloration is uniformly black, as is the iris. The ventral side is orange-red; the belly is lighter in color, suffused with yellow. [8]

Conservation

With the last recorded sighting dating to 1988, the species was thought to be extinct until early 2016, when a relict population was discovered in an undisclosed location. [5]

Atelopus ignescens was formerly abundant along streams, rivers and ponds of the páramo surrounding the Ecuadorian capital city of Quito. The species started to decline in the 1980s, probably due to the chytridiomycosis that ravaged other amphibian species around the world, and prior to its rediscovery had been listed as extinct by the IUCN. Other threats include habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and invasive rainbow trout. [1] [5]

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 longirostris</i> Species of amphibian

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. Once listed as extinct by the IUCN, it was rediscovered in 2016 after more than two decade with no sightings.

<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.

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

Atelopus bomolochos, the Azuay stubfoot toad or Cuenca jambato frog, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to southern Ecuador and known from Cordillera Oriental in the Azuay, Cañar, and Loja Provinces.

<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.

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

The elegant stubfoot toad or Pacific jambato frog is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae found in lowlands and Andean slopes of northwest Ecuador to 1,140 m (3,740 ft) asl and on the Gorgona Island, off southwest coast of Colombia. It was described by George Albert Boulenger in 1882 based on a specimen collected by Edward Whymper. It is known in Spanish as rana jambato del Pacífico or simply jambato del Pacífico.

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

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 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.

Atelopus lynchi, also known as Lynch's stubfoot toad or Lynch's harlequin frog, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It occurs in northern Ecuador (Carchi) and in southern Colombia. It occurs on the Pacific slope of the Cordillera Occidental, as the westernmost ranges of the Andes are known in both Colombia and in Ecuador. Prior to its description, it was confused with Atelopus longirostris.

The Mindo stubfoot toad or Mindo harlequin-toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Ecuador in Pichincha, Santo Domingo and Cotopaxi Provinces. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and rivers. It has a unique appearance and color pattern, being green and red with white speckles, and due to this it was once considered an emblematic species of the Mindo Valley.

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.

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

Atelopus palmatus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Cordillera Oriental of eastern Ecuador and is known from the Napo and Pastaza Provinces at elevations of 1,150–1,740 m (3,770–5,710 ft) above sea level. Its type locality is "Rio Pastaza".

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.

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.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">María Cristina Ardila-Robayo</span> Colombian herpetologist

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 ardila is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. It has not been seen since 1992, and is believed to be possibly extinct.

Atelopus pastuso is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. It has not been seen since 1993, and is possibly extinct.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Atelopus ignescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T54518A98641865. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T54518A98641865.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Kreier, Freda (2022-11-09). "Some harlequin frogs — presumed extinct — have been rediscovered". ScienceNews. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  3. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Atelopus ignescens (Cornalia, 1849)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 Coloma, L. A.; Quiguango-Ubillús, A. (2016). "Atelopus ignescens". Anfibios de Ecuador. Centro Jambatu, Fundación Otonga. Quito, Ecuador. Archived from the original on 2016-06-10. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Coloma, L.A. (May 2016). "El Jambato negro del páramo, Atelopus ignescens, resucitó". www.IMciencia.com (in Spanish).
  6. Lou Del Bello: Boy finds 'extinct' frog in Ecuador and helps revive species, on: NewScientist, 7 July 2017.
  7. Kreier, Freda (3 December 2022). "These frogs aren't extinct after all". Science News (Paper). 202 (10): 6.
  8. 1 2 Coloma, L. A.; Lötters, S.; Salas, A. W. (2000). "Taxonomy of the Atelopus ignescens complex (Anura: Bufonidae): designation of a neotype of Atelopus ignescens and recognition of Atelopus exiguus". Herpetologica. 56 (3): 303–324. JSTOR   3893408.
  9. Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2014). "Atelopus ignescens (Cornalia, 1849)". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.03.2014. www.batrachia.com. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  10. Ruthven, Alexander G. (May 25, 1916). "Description of a new species of Atelopus from the Santa Marta Mountains, Colombia" (PDF). Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology. 1 (28): 1–3. Retrieved 2008-03-26.