Atelopus bomolochos

Atelopus bomolochos
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Atelopus
Species: A. bomolochos
Binomial name
Atelopus bomolochos
Peters, 1973

Atelopus bomolochos, the Azuay stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to southern Ecuador and known from Cordillera Oriental in the Azuay and Cañar Provinces.[1][2][3][4]

Description

Males measure 38.4–40.8 mm (1.51–1.61 in) and females 43.9–51.0 mm (1.73–2.01 in) in snout–vent length. The dorsum is yellow, yellow with brown, or yellowish green, usually with black spots on the back. The belly is yellow or orange.[3]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are humid montane forest, sub-páramo, and páramo at elevations of 2,500–2,800 m (8,200–9,200 ft) above sea level. It breeds in streams.[1][3]

This formerly abundant species has nearly disappeared from its range. The decline is attributed to chytridiomycosis and habitat loss.[1] After one last individual was observed in 2002 in the Sangay National Park,[1] and the species was feared extinct, the species was not seen before a small population was rediscovered in 2015 near Cuenca.[5]

A captive population is maintained in the Amaru Zoo, Cuenca.[4]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atelopus bomolochos.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Coloma, L.A.; Ron, S.R.; Lötters, S.; Bustamante, M.R.; Merino-Viteri, A. & Salas, A. (2004). "Atelopus bomolochos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2004. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Atelopus bomolochos Peters, 1973". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Coloma, L. A.; Frenkel, C.; Félix-Novoa, C.; Quiguango-Ubillus, A. & Varela-Jaramillo, A. (2010–2015). "Atelopus bomolochos". Ron, S. R., Guayasamin, J. M., Yanez-Muñoz, M. H., Merino-Viteri, A., Ortiz, D. A. and Nicolalde, D. A. 2016. AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2016.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 Coloma, L. A.; Lötters, S.; Quiguango-Ubillús, A. (2016). "Atelopus bomolochos". Anfibios de Ecuador. Centro Jambatu, Fundación Otonga. Quito, Ecuador. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  5. Jennifer S. Holland (31 August 2015). "'Extinct' Toad Rediscovered in Ecuador". National Geographic). Retrieved 6 August 2016.
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