Atelopus petersi

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Atelopus petersi
Atelopus petersi imported from iNaturalist photo 56815472 on 4 August 2020.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Atelopus
Species:
A. petersi
Binomial name
Atelopus petersi
Coloma  [ fr ], Lötters  [ fr ], Duellman  [ fr ], and Miranda-Leiva, 2007 [2]

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. [3] [4] The specific name petersi honors James A. Peters, an American zoologist [5] who collected the first specimens of this species in 1962 and provided a description under the name Atelopus pachydermus . [2] Common names Peters' stubfoot toad [5] and Peters' jambato toad have been coined for it. [4]

Contents

Description

Adult males measure 35–42 mm (1.4–1.7 in) and adult females are 43–50 mm (1.7–2.0 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is acuminate. The tympanic membrane, annulus, and stapes are absent. The fingers have lateral fringes but no webbing whereas the toes are webbed. The dorsum has a yellow to orange pattern on black background, and may be almost entirely black. Warts and pustules may have white tops. The flanks are white. The venter is white and may have black marks, or is uniform orange to reddish orange. [2]

Habitat and conservation

Atelopus petersi occurs in montane cloud forests and high montane evergreen forests at elevations of 2,660–3,300 m (8,730–10,830 ft) above sea level. Individuals have been found under rocks at the edge of a stream, in a streambed by day, under logs on a grassy hillside, on a cushion plant in paramo, on a trail, and along the border of a river. [1] [2]

Atelopus petersi was extremely common near Papallacta at the time Peters observed them. The Last confirmed record of the species is from 1996 and is based on a dead animal. However, local people in Oyacachi claimed in 2003 to see single specimens from time to time. It is feared that the species might now be extinct. The precise reasons for this dramatic decline are not known, but climate abnormalities and chytridiomycosis are possible factors. [1] [2]

Related Research Articles

<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. 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.

<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">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.

<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.

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.

Atelopus vogli is an extinct species of harlequin frog in the family Bufonidae. It was endemic to Venezuela. It is known from collections in two localities: its type locality, Las Peñas near Hacienda la Trinidad in Aragua, and Montalbán in Carabobo. It was first described as subspecies of Atelopus cruciger. The specific name vogli honours Cornelius Vogl, German priest who was a missionary in Venezuela in 1925–1959. Common name Vogl's harlequin toad has been coined for it.

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

Atelopus patazensis is a species of toads in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Peru and only known from its type locality in Quebrada Los Alisos, near Pataz in the La Libertad Region. There is, however, an unverified observation from Llacuabamba, about 40 km south of Pataz.

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 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.

<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.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Luis A. Coloma (2008). "Atelopus petersi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T136038A4238016. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T136038A4238016.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Coloma, Luis A.; Lötters, Stefan; Duellman, William E. & Miranda-Leiva, Alfonso (2007). "A taxonomic revision of Atelopus pachydermus, and description of two new (extinct?) species of Atelopus from Ecuador (Anura: Bufonidae)". Zootaxa. 1557 (1): 1–32. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1557.1.1.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Atelopus petersi Coloma, Lötters, Duellman, and Miranda-Leiva, 2007". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. 1 2 Ron, S. R.; et al. (2018). Ron, S. R.; Merino-Viteri, A.; Ortiz, D. A. (eds.). "Atelopus petersi". Anfibios del Ecuador. Version 2018.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  5. 1 2 Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 166. ISBN   978-1-907807-42-8.