Starry night toad

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Starry night toad
Atelopus arsyecue imported from iNaturalist photo 57985228 on 4 August 2020.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. arsyecue
Binomial name
Atelopus arsyecue
Rueda-Almonacid, 1994

The starry night harlequin toad (Atelopus arsyecue) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. [2] 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. It is named after its unique coloration, being largely black with white spots. [3]

Atelopus arsyecue is primarily threatened by habitat loss, with assumptions on decline by chytridiomycosis. Coupled with the inaccessibility of the preservation that the toad calls home, the species was feared extinct for over 30 years. [1] However, its continued existence was known to the Arhuaco community in Sogrome, who referred to the animal as gouna and considered its habitat a sacred location. In 2019, the tribe consented to collaboration with researchers and showed them the living population, marking the first scientific documentation of this species in over 30 years. [3]

Anatomy and morphology

This diminutive toad is less than 5 cm (2 in) in length. [3] The starry night toad's coloration consists of irregular white patches dappled across a black background. The white markings can present as separate spots or as an interconnected mosaic. Their skin texture is defined by even coverage of warts. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta desde el espacio.jpg
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia

Starry night harlequin toads seek habitat consisting of montane forest, high-altitude grasslands, and inland wetlands. As documented, the toad only occurs in a single defined location. Its range is specifically limited to the Sierra Nevada de Sanata Marta National Park of Colombia, with an estimated extent of occurrence of 80 km² across the mountains. [1] A. arsyecue seems to be exclusive to the sacred homelands of the Arhuaco people living in the Sogrome community. [2] [3] This area is primarily cloud forest with plentiful water resources as fed by high volumes of rainfall- which, consequently, has made the region ideal for agriculture. The toad is heavily reliant upon the integrity of the stream network running through the mountain range, both for its regular habitation and reproduction. Reproduction takes place in fast-flowing rivers, where chains of eggs are laid post-amplexus. [5] [6]

Taxonomy

The genus Atelopus houses the harlequin toads, which are considered the most threatened amphibians in the world. [6] It's presumed that the harlequin toads will ultimately be the first amphibian genus to lose all of its members to extinction. [7] Starry night toads are one of ~130 Atelopus species presently described by science. [7] 37% of these species are similar to the starry night toad in that they were presumed extinct, either by trending decline or missing data, but later found extant. [8]

Conservation

Habitat degradation is the primary limitation to the species' existence. As a synthesis of historical Incan practices and modern innovation, Andean agriculture is largely less invasive than conventional practices, but still has managed to render portions of vital habitat unusable by this organism. While concrete evidence of infection has yet to be found, chytridiomycosis is suspect for additional decline of the already vulnerable population. [1] This virulent fungus has already been found at fault for sharp declines in other Colombian harlequin toad populations, such as Atelopus simulatus and Atelopus zeteki . [9]

The starry night toad was last evaluated for the IUCN Red List in 2016. From this review, the species was listed as critically endangered. [1] Prior to the groundbreaking 2019 expedition, the starry night harlequin toad was last documented in 1991; during the thirty-year interim period, it was assumed that this species would have followed the trend of other high-altitude harlequin toads in decline to the point of extinction.

In 2016, a conservationist living among the Sogrome community, Ruperto Chaparro Villafaña, approached scientists of the Fundación Atelopus, a partner of Global Wildlife Conservation that works to conserve threatened amphibians in the Colombian Caribbean. After nearly four years of communication between the two parties, it was agreed that the sacred grounds would be made accessible for inspection and documentation to benefit the toad, but on the condition that entering researchers would not take photographs of the animal. Expectations were greatly exceeded when the researchers allowed onto the lands were able to document not only one individual, but a healthy population of thirty. [10]

A documentary published by AI Jazeera English provides exclusive detailing of the partnership between the researchers and the Arhuaco. The Arhuaco people want to see their intrinsic gouna species preserved for many generations to come, just as conservation science does.

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 varius</i> Species of amphibian

Atelopus varius, the Costa Rican variable harlequin toad or clown frog, is a small Neotropical true toad from the family Bufonidae. Once ranging from Costa Rica to Panama, A. varius is now listed as critically endangered and has been reduced to a single remnant population near Quepos, Costa Rica, and has only relict populations in western Panama. Recent variation in air temperature, precipitation, stream flow patterns, and the subsequent spread of a pathogenic chytrid fungus linked to global climate change have been the leading cause of decline for A. varius. A. zeteki has been considered a subspecies of A. varius, but is now generally considered a separate species.

<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 carbonerensis</i> Species of amphibian

Atelopus carbonerensis, also known as the Venezuelan yellow frog and La Carbonera stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Mérida Andes of Venezuela. Following an observation in 1998, it was feared extinct for nearly two decades until a single individual was sighted in 2014, followed by an observation of a mating pair in 2021.

<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.

<i>Atelopus chiriquiensis</i> Extinct species of amphibian

Atelopus chiriquiensis, the Chiriqui harlequin frog or Lewis' stubfoot toad, is an extinct species of toad in the family Bufonidae that was found in the Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica and western Panama. Its natural habitats were stream margins in lower montane wet forests and rainforests. Its elevational range was 1,400–2,500 m (4,600–8,200 ft) asl.

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.

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

Atelopus glyphus, the Pirri harlequin frog or Pirri Range stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae found in Colombia and Panama within the Northwestern Andean montane forests. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers.

<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.

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

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.

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

Atelopus limosus, the limosa harlequin frog is an endangered species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to Panama. Its natural habitats are stream banks in tropical moist lowland forests and rivers of the Chagres watershed in central Panama.

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.

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

Atelopus mucubajiensis, also known as the Mucubaji stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Mérida Andes of Venezuela. This once abundant species was last observed in 2004. It is likely extinct.

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

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.

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 pulcher</i> Species of amphibian

Atelopus pulcher is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to eastern Peru where it is found in the Huallaga River drainage; its range might extend to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are lowland and premontane tropical forests. It is a diurnal and terrestrial species that breeds in streams.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Marta páramo</span>

The Santa Marta páramo (NT1007) is an ecoregion containing páramo vegetation above the treeline in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The isolated position of the range has allowed unique species to evolve. Some are related to those found in Central America and the Caribbean coastal areas, and some to species from the Andes. The habitat is relatively stable, but has been drastically changed from the original by long-term human activity.

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 5 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2017). "Atelopus arsyecue". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T54489A49534521. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T54489A49534521.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Atelopus arsyecue Rueda-Almonacid, 1994". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Thought extinct for 30 years, the starry night toad is rediscovered". Animals. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  4. ↑ Edmondstone, Michael (2022-12-02). "Let's talk about the starry night harlequin toad". Shoal. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  5. ↑ Pérez-Gonzalez, José Luis; Rada, Marco; Vargas-Salinas, Fernando; Rueda-Solano, Luis Alberto (31 March 2020). "The Tadpoles of Two Atelopus Species (Anura: Bufonidae) from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, with Notes on their Ecology and Comments on the Morphology of Atelopus Larvae". South American Journal of Herpetology. 2020 (15): 47–62. doi:10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00093.1. ISSN   1808-9798.
  6. 1 2 "Colombia: Conserving threatened harlequin toads in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta | ICFC". icfcanada.org. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  7. 1 2 Lötters, Stefan; Plewnia, Amadeus; Catenazzi, Alessandro; Neam, Kelsey; Acosta-Galvis, Andrés R.; Alarcon Vela, Yesenia; Allen, Joshua P.; Alfaro Segundo, Juan O.; de Lourdes Almendáriz Cabezas, Ana; Alvarado Barboza, Gilbert; Alves-Silva, Kleiton R.; Anganoy-Criollo, Marvin; Arbeláez Ortiz, Ernesto; Arpi Lojano, Jackeline D.; Arteaga, Alejandro (2023-11-11). "Ongoing harlequin toad declines suggest the amphibian extinction crisis is still an emergency". Communications Earth & Environment. 4 (1): 412. Bibcode:2023ComEE...4..412L. doi:10.1038/s43247-023-01069-w. hdl: 1854/LU-01HNZK8VG2XK30SVCS60E403KD . ISSN   2662-4435.
  8. ↑ Jaynes, Kyle E.; Páez-Vacas, Mónica I.; Salazar-Valenzuela, David; Guayasamin, Juan M.; Terán-Valdez, Andrea; Siavichay, Fausto R.; Fitzpatrick, Sarah W.; Coloma, Luis A. (8 November 2022). "Harlequin frog rediscoveries provide insights into species persistence in the face of drastic amphibian declines". Biological Conservation. 276: 109784. Bibcode:2022BCons.27609784J. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109784. ISSN   0006-3207.
  9. ↑ Ballestas, Onil; Lampo, Margarita; Rodríguez, Diego (2021-07-15). "Living with the pathogenic chytrid fungus: Exploring mechanisms of coexistence in the harlequin toad Atelopus cruciger". PLOS ONE. 16 (7): e0254439. Bibcode:2021PLoSO..1654439B. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254439 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   8281998 . PMID   34264969.
  10. ↑ "'Rediscovery' Highlights Integral Role of Indigenous Peoples' Knowledge and Traditions in Wildlife Protection". www.rewild.org. Retrieved 2024-04-22.


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