Atelopus bomolochos

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

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

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
  1. Coloma, L.A.; Ron, S.R.; Lötters, S.; Bustamante, M.R.; Merino-Viteri, A. & Salas, A. (2004). "Atelopus bomolochos (errata version published in 2016)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T54492A11142176. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T54492A11142176.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Atelopus bomolochos Peters, 1973". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  3. Coloma, L. A.; et al. (2018). Ron, S. R.; Merino-Viteri, A. & Ortiz, D. A. (eds.). "Atelopus bomolochos". Anfibios del Ecuador. Version 2019.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  4. Coloma, L. A.; Lötters, S. & Quiguango-Ubillús, A. (2016). "Atelopus bomolochos". Anfibios de Ecuador. Quito, Ecuador: Centro Jambatu, Fundación Otonga. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  5. Jennifer S. Holland (31 August 2015). "'Extinct' Toad Rediscovered in Ecuador". National Geographic). Retrieved 6 August 2016.
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