| Atelopus laetissimus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Atelopus |
| Species: | A. laetissimus |
| Binomial name | |
| Atelopus laetissimus | |
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. [1] [3] [4]
Adult males measure 35 to 39 mm (1.4 to 1.5 in) and adult females, based on just one specimen, 54 mm (2.1 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is acuminate (males) or sub-acuminate (female) in dorsal view. The tympanum is absent. The fingers have traces of basal webbing while the toes are fully (toes I to III) to partially webbed (toes IV and V). Skin is smooth on the front part of the head but otherwise bears granules, tubercles, and warts; these are especially prominent in the tympanic area. Dorsal coloration is olive green, yellowish olive, or ocher with spots. There is a dark brown X-like mark between the eyes and the suprascapular area with spots, and an inverted V-shaped in the back. Ventral coloration is olive, cream or rust with light green, pale lilac or brown spots, specks or vermiculations. [2]
The species' natural habitats are sub-Andean forests at elevations of 1,900–2,880 m (6,230–9,450 ft) above sea level. [1] [4] It has been found in both closed-canopy secondary forest and riparian forest. Breeding takes place in streams. [1]
Atelopus laetissimus is only known from three geographically separated locations. The populations appear stable and even locally abundant, but almost all observed animals are males. Habitat loss is a threat, with ongoing conversion of forest to pasture lands acutely threatening one of the populations. The species is also potentially threatened by chytridiomycosis (although as of 2014, the disease has not been detected in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta). The species is present in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park as well as in the adjacent El Dorado Nature Reserve. [1]
The starry night toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Its natural habitats are sub-Andean and Andean forests, sub-páramo and páramo at 2,000–3,500 m (6,600–11,500 ft) above sea level. Reproduction takes place in fast-flowing rivers. It is named after its unique coloration, being largely black with white spots.
The Guajira stubfoot toad or Carrikeri harlequin frog, Atelopus carrikeri, 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 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.
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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.
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Rhinella ruizi is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Cordillera Central in Antioquia, Colombia. The specific name ruizi honors Pedro Miguel Ruiz-Carranza, a Colombian herpetologist.
Ikakogi tayrona, or the Magdalena giant glass frog, is a species of frog in the family Centrolenidae. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Magdalena Department, Colombia. It is the only glass frog that is known to show maternal care.
Atopophrynus is a genus of frogs. It is monotypic, being represented by a single species, Atopophrynus syntomopus, also known as the Sonson frog. Its taxonomic placement within the superfamily Brachycephaloidea is uncertain, although many sources place it in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from its type series from Sonsón, in the Cordillera Central, Antioquia Department.
Pristimantis aemulatus is a species of frogs in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Colombia where it is only known from its type locality in Las Orquídeas National Park, on the Cordillera Occidental in Antioquia. Its natural habitat is the understorey of very wet primary forest.
Pristimantis obmutescens is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Colombia and known from the páramos of Cordillera Central in the Cauca and Huila Departments. Common name paramos robber frog has been coined for it. The specific name obmutescens is Latin and means "keeping silent", inferred from the lack of vocal slits or sac in males and the thick skin covering the tympanum. Despite this, the species is reported to call.
Pristimantis permixtus is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Colombia where it is found on the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Central in Antioquia, Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda, Tolima, and Valle del Cauca departments.
Pristimantis piceus is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Colombia and occurs in the Cordillera Central between the Antioquia Department in the north and the Cauca Department in the south. Many specimens are black in color, and the specific name piceus is Latin meaning "pitch-black".
Pristimantis ruthveni is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to the northwestern slope of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in the Magdalena Department, northern Colombia. The specific name ruthveni honors Alexander Grant Ruthven, an American herpetologist. Common name Ruthven's robber frog has been coined for this species.
Pristimantis scopaeus is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Colombia and occurs in the Cordillera Central in the Tolima and Quindío Departments. Pristimantis scopaeus is a dwarf species: adult males in the type series were first mistaken for juveniles of Pristimantis simoteriscus, which itself already is a small species. The specific name scopaeus is Latinization of the Greek skopaios, meaning "dwarf".
Pristimantis simoteriscus is a species of frogs in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Colombia and occurs in the Cordillera Central in the Tolima, Quindío, and Caldas Departments. There is also an unconfirmed record from the Valle del Cauca Department. The specific name simoteriscus is diminutive of simoterus, chosen because adult P. simoteriscus resemble juvenile individuals of Pristimantis simoterus.
Pristimantis tayrona is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to the northwestern Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. The specific name tayrona refers to the pre-Columbian Tairona culture. Lynch and Ruíz-Carranza suggest that this species might have been a model for the gold frogs unearthed from archaeological sites in the area.
Savage's salamander, also known as Savage's mushroomtongue salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia. The record from Venezuela represents another species, likely Bolitoglossa guaramacalensis. The species is named after Jay M. Savage, an American herpetologist.
Atelopus pyrodactylus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Peru and only known from its type locality in the northern section of the Río Huallaga basin, Department of San Martín, on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Central. The specific name pyrodactylus refers to the light orange fingers and toes of this frog.
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.
