Aromobates meridensis

Aromobates meridensis (common name: Mérida rocket frog) is a species of frog in the family Aromobatidae. It is endemic to the Cordillera de Mérida near Chorotal, Venezuela.[2]

Aromobates meridensis
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Aromobatidae
Genus:	Aromobates
Species:	A. meridensis
Binomial name
Aromobates meridensis (Dole & Durant, 1972)
Synonyms
Colostethus meridensis Dole & Durant, 1972 Nephelobates meridensis (Dole & Durant, 1972)

Description

Aromobates meridensis measure 29–33 mm (1.1–1.3 in) in snout–vent length and have basal toe webbing.[3] The male protects the eggs that are laid on land. After hatching, the male carries the tadpoles on his back to water where they develop further.[1]

Habitat and conservation

The natural habitats of Aromobates meridensis are streams in cloud forest. This species is threatened by habitat loss. Also the invasive bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus is a threat.[1]

References

1. La Marca, E. & García-Pérez, J.E. (2004). "Aromobates meridensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T55257A11263629. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T55257A11263629.en.
2. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Aromobates meridensis (Dole and Durant, 1972)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
3. Vitt, Laurie J.; Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. p. 487.