Atelopus orcesi

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Atelopus orcesi
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Atelopus
Species:
A. orcesi
Binomial name
Atelopus orcesi
Coloma, Duellman, Almendáriz, Ron, Terán-Valdez & Guayasamin, 2010

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

Atelopus orcesi was first described in 2010. Its specific epithet honors Gustavo Edmundo Orcés Villagómez, a pioneering Ecuadoran zoologist. [2]

Description

Atelopus orcesi is a medium-sized member of its genus, with males averaging 30mm in length and females averaging 40mm. Males and females can also be distinguished from each other by the longer, more slender forelegs females possess, and the distinct rows of warts down the sides of the males. Both sexes possess distinct X-shaped marks on the back of their heads. [2]

Habitat and Distribution

The species is only known from its type locality, in the eastern portion of Cordillera Occidental (Ecuador) in the Sucumbíos Province in Ecuador. Its preferred habitat consists of montane cloud forest. [2]

History and Conservation

The only known specimens of Atelopus orcesi were collected in May of 1988 by Ana María Velasco. No further individuals have been seen since then despite surveys, including an intensive survey at the species' type locality in 2009. It's believed that its main threats are climate change and disease. [2] Chytridiomycosis is not known to have played a role in the population decline of Atelopus orcesi, but it is known to have caused other populations of amphibians in Ecuador to decrease dramatically. [3] In 2018, the IUCN listed the species as Critically Endangered and possibly extinct. [1]

Related Research Articles

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

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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.

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.

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References

  1. 1 2 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Atelopus orcesi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T18435530A56602182. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T18435530A56602182.en . Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Coloma, Luis A.; Almendáriz, Ana; Ron, Santiago; Terán-Valdez, Andrea; Guayasamin, Juan M.; Duellman, William E. (August 2010). "Five New (Extinct?) Species Of Atelopus (Anura: Bufonidae) From Andean Colombia, Ecuador, And Peru". Zootaxa. 2574: 1–54. doi:10.5281/zenodo.197448 . Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  3. Ron, Santiago; Merino-Viteri, Andres (January 2000). "Amphibian declines in Ecuador: Overview and first report of chytridiomycosis from South America". Froglog. 42: 2–3. Retrieved 14 February 2022.