Carchi Andes toad

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Carchi Andes toad
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Rhaebo
Species:
R. colomai
Binomial name
Rhaebo colomai
(Hoogmoed, 1985)
Andinophryne colomai distribution.svg
Geographic range in South America
Synonyms

Andinophryne colomaiHoogmoed, 1985

The Carchi Andes toad (Rhaebo colomai) is a species of toad endemic to the western slopes of the Andes in northern Ecuador and southern Colombia. [2] [3] It is listed as an endangered species due to a restricted range and habitat loss. [1]

Contents

Description

Rhaebo colomai are medium-sized toads: males measure 33–38 mm (1.3–1.5 in) and females 55–59 mm (2.2–2.3 in) in snout–vent length. [3] [4]

Habitat and conservation

This species is known only from three locations: the type locality ("Cabacera del Rio Baboso, cerca a Lita', Carchi Province, Ecuador"), one other locality close by in the province of Carchi, in the northwestern Andes of Ecuador, and one locality on the Colombian Massif in the Nariño Department. It has been recorded from 1,180 to 1,500 m asl. [3] [4] [5]

The holotype was collected on a branch some 50 cm above the ground in the forest of a small creek at night. [6] A male was collected at night sitting on a tree trunk in a creek, while a female was collected in the afternoon on the forest floor near a creek. The stomach of a female was crammed with ants. [7]

The type locality has been severely impacted by habitat destruction as a result of agriculture and logging. In addition, spraying of herbicides in Colombia to control crops is polluting the species' habitat. An unknown intrinsic factor may also be responsible for the species' scarcity. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True toad</span> Family of amphibians

A true toad is any member of the family Bufonidae, in the order Anura. This is the only family of anurans in which all members are known as toads, although some may be called frogs. The bufonids now comprise more than 35 genera, Bufo being the best known.

<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.

The Western Andes toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to Colombia, where it is only known from the type locality in the Munchique National Natural Park, on the western slope of the Cordillera Occidental, Cauca. Its natural habitat is primary Andean forest.

Rhaebo olallai is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to Ecuador. Its common name is Tandayapa Andes toad, after its type locality, Tandayapa, in the Pichincha Province); the species has not been seen there after 1970, despite search efforts. It is only known from another locality in the Imbabura Province of Ecuador. It has also been reported from one locality on the Colombian Massif, Nariño Department, Colombia, but these have been shown to represent Rhaebo colomai.

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.

Blomberg's toad, also known as the Colombian giant toad, is a very large species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in rainforests at altitudes between 200 and 650 metres in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. It has been recorded in Florida in 1963, apparently because of pet escape or release, but did not get established.

<i>Rhaebo caeruleostictus</i> Species of amphibian

Rhaebo caeruleostictus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Ecuador and occurs along the lower western slope of the Cordillera Occidental at elevations of 40–2,000 m (130–6,560 ft) asl. The specific name caeruleostictus, from Latin caeruleus (=blue) and Greek stiktos (spotted), refers to the bluish colour pattern of this species. Accordingly, common name blue-spotted toad has been coined for it.

<i>Rhaebo glaberrimus</i> Species of amphibian

Rhaebo glaberrimus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. Its common name is Cundinamarca toad, after its type locality, "Bogota", Cundinamarca, although this location is likely to be incorrectly reported. It is found in eastern Amazonian Colombia, including the lower eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental to 1,470 m (4,820 ft) asl, and adjacent Venezuela. Rhaebo ecuadorensis from Ecuador and Peru was formerly confused with this species. It has also been confused with Rhaebo guttatus.

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

The smooth-sided toad or spotted toad, formerly known as Bufo guttatus, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in the Amazonian Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as the Guianas. Specimens from southern Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil might represent Rhaebo ecuadorensis described in 2012.

Rhaebo hypomelas is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Colombia and known from the Chocó region in the departments of Antioquia, Chocó, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, and Cauca, at elevations of 10–1,600 m (33–5,249 ft) asl. There are also reports from Ecuador but these are not considered valid. Its natural habitats are lowland tropical moist forests. It is a terrestrial species living in leaf litter near water. It is a rare species that is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South American common toad</span> Species of amphibian

The South American common toad is a species complex of toads in the family Bufonidae. They are found throughout the Amazonian South America and eastern Panama. It was originally believed to be a single species, but is now known to represent a complex of more than one.

Werner's toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in northwestern Guyana and eastern Venezuela at elevations of 500–1,350 m (1,640–4,430 ft) asl.

<i>Rhinella proboscidea</i> Species of amphibian

Rhinella proboscidea is a species of small South American toad in the family Bufonidae, common in the Amazon rainforest. It is the only species known to practice reproductive necrophilia.

<i>Rhinella roqueana</i> Species of amphibian

Rhinella roqueana is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in northern Peru, eastern Ecuador (Pastaza), Amazonian Colombia, and adjacent western Brazil. Its specific name refers to its type locality, Roque, San Martín Region, Peru. Its taxonomic position is uncertain and it is not clear how to distinguish it from other members in the Rhinella margaritifera group in the area.

Werneria tandyi, also known as Tandy's torrent toad or Tandy's smalltongue toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to western Cameroon and known from Mount Manengouba and from the Rumpi Hills. The specific name tandyi honours Robert Mills Tandy, biologist, herpetologist, and wildlife photographer.

Adelophryne adiastola is a species of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is found in the Amazon Basin in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Brazil.

<i>Adelophryne pachydactyla</i> Species of frog

Adelophryne pachydactyla is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to the coastal area of south-central Bahia state, Brazil. Some specimens first identified as A. pachydactyla have later been found to represent a new species, Adelophryne mucronatus; the two species can occur in sympatry. The specific name pachydactyla is derived from Greek pachys (=thick) and daktylos (=finger), referring to the thick, short, swollen fingers of this frog.

Noblella myrmecoides is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in the upper Amazon Basin of southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, Bolivia, and western Brazil (Amazonas). Common name Loreto leaf frog has been coined for this species.

<i>Incilius</i> Genus of amphibians

Incilius is genus of toads in the true toad family, Bufonidae. They are sometimes known as the Central American toads or Middle American toads and are found in southern USA, Mexico, Central America, and northern Pacific South America. They are an ecologically and biogeographically diverse group of toads, including micro-endemic species such as Incilius spiculatus that are restricted to undisturbed cloud forests, and widespread lowland species such as Incilius valliceps that predominantly occur in disturbed habitats.

<i>Rhaebo</i> Genus of amphibians

Rhaebo is a genus of true toads, family Bufonidae, from Central and South America. They are distributed from Honduras to northern South America including the Amazonian lowlands. Common name Cope toads has been suggested for them.

References

  1. 1 2 3 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Rhaebo colomai". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T54462A85856993. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T54462A85856993.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Rhaebo colomai (Hoogmoed, 1985)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Ron, Santiago R.; Mueses-Cisneros, Jonh Jairo; Gutiérrez-Cárdenas, Paul David Alfonso; Rojas-Rivera, Alejandra; Lynch, Ryan L.; Rocha, Carlos F. Duarte; Galarza, Gabriela (2015). "Systematics of the endangered toad genus Andinophryne (Anura: Bufonidae): phylogenetic position and synonymy under the genus Rhaebo". Zootaxa. 3947 (3): 347–366. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3947.3.3. PMID   25947741.
  4. 1 2 Coloma, L. A.; Frenkel, C.; Félix-Novoa, C. & Quiguango-Ubillús, A. (2015). "Rhaebo colomai". Ron, S. R., Guayasamin, J. M., Yanez-Muñoz, M. H., Merino-Viteri, A., Ortiz, D. A. y Nicolalde, D. A. 2014. AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2014.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  5. Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2015). "Rhaebo colomai (Hoogmoed, 1985)". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.05.2015. www.batrachia.com. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  6. Hoogmoed, Marinus S. (1985). "A new genus of toads (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae) from the Pacific slopes of the Andes in Northern Ecuador and Southern Colombia, with the description of two new species" (PDF). Zoologische Mededelingen . Leiden. 59 (22): 251–274. ISSN   0024-0672 . Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  7. Hoogmoed, Marinus S. (1989). "On the identity of some toads of the genus Bufo from Ecuador, with additional remarks on Andinophryne colomai Hoogmoed, 1985 (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae)" (PDF). Zoologische Verhandelingen . Leiden. 250 (21vii): 1–32. ISSN   0024-1652. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.