Atelopus longirostris

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.[2] As of mid-2017, it is listed as extinct by the IUCN,[1] but was rediscovered in 2016 after more than two decade with no sightings.[3] The scientific name of this species means "long-snout" and the species has been named in Spanish as the jambato hocicudo (long-snouted jambato).[4] Common names longnose stubfoot toad, scrawny stubfoot-toad, and longnose sharlequin frog have been coined for it.[2][3]

Atelopus longirostris
Female Atelopus longirostris from Junín, Ecuador

Extinct in the Wild  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Atelopus
Species:
A. longirostris
Binomial name
Atelopus longirostris
Cope, 1868
Synonyms[2]

Phryniscus longirostris (Cope, 1868)
Phryniscus boussingaulti Thominot, 1889
Atelopus longirostris marmorata Werner, 1901

Status and rediscovery

The species has been classified as extinct (and as of mid-2017, remains listed as such, pending an update by the IUCN), due to huge declines probably related to the disease chytridiomycosis, climate change and habitat loss.[1] The species was not recorded between 1989 and 2016, despite some searching in historical localities. It was rediscovered in March 2016 when four adults (two males and two females) were located in Imbabura in two small forest patches in an area heavily modified for agriculture and livestock. These individuals tested negative for chytridiomycosis and were brought to the Jambatu Research and Conservation Center in the hope of establishing a captive breeding population.[3]

Taxonomy and systematics

Atelopus longirostris was described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1868 based on a specimen collected by James Orton and which now appears to be lost. The type locality was stated as "Valley of Quito", but this is presumed to be erroneous.[5][2]

Arteaga and colleagues (2013) state that populations from Carchi and Esmeraldas Provinces need taxonomic revision and exclude them from the range of this species.[6][3]

Distribution and habitat

Atelopus longirostris is historically known from the western slopes of the northern Ecuadorian Andes in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Imbabura, Pichincha, and Cotopaxi, at elevations between 200–2,500 m (660–8,200 ft) above sea level.[1][4] Tapia and colleagues give a slightly different historic range that includes Imbabura, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Provinces and a narrower altitudinal range, 900–1,925 m (2,953–6,316 ft).[3]

Atelopus longirostris inhabits lowland (but see above) and montane tropical rainforests. Breeding takes place in streams.[1] Populations discovered in 2016 were in isolated, small patches of native forest within a heavily modified landscape. They were all found at night, perched on leaves about half a metre above the ground, some distance away from the nearest rivers.[3]

Male Atelopus longirostris from Junín, Ecuador

Description

Adult males measure 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) and females 41–47 mm (1.6–1.9 in) in snout–vent length.[4][7] However, Tapia and colleagues report two smaller adult females, measuring 37 and 39 mm (1.5 and 1.5 in) SVL.[3] Atelopus longirostris has a slender body with long limbs. The snout is pronounced and has a comparatively sharp point. The fingers are fleshy and have some basal webbing; the toes are more heavily webbed. The dorsum is brown with yellow or cream rounded spots. The flanks are dark brown or black. The venter is whitish with some brown suffusion in the throat and chest.[4][5]

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References
  1. Bustamante, Martín R.; et al. (2004). "Atelopus longirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T54522A11158637. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T54522A11158637.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Atelopus longirostris Cope, 1868". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  3. Tapia, Elicio Eladio; Coloma, Luis Aurelio; Pazmiño-Otamendi, Gustavo & Peñafiel, Nicolás (25 May 2017). "Rediscovery of the nearly extinct longnose harlequin frog Atelopus longirostris (Bufonidae) in Junín, Imbabura, Ecuador". Neotropical Biodiversity. 3 (1): 157–167. doi:10.1080/23766808.2017.1327000.
  4. Galvis, P.A.; Cisneros-Heredia, D.F. (2005). "Atelopus longirostris". In Rueda-Almonacid, J.V.; et al. (eds.). Ranas Arlequines. Libretas de Campo. Conservación Internacional. p. 53. ISBN 958-97690-4-7.
  5. Peters, James Arthur (1973). "The frog genus Atelopus in Ecuador (Anura: Bufonidae)". Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology (145): 1–49. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.145.
  6. Arteaga, Alejandro; Bustamante, Lucas M. & Guayasamin, Juan M. (2013). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Mindo: Life in the Cloudforest. Quito, Ecuador: Imprenta Mariscal. ISBN 978-9942-13-496-7.
  7. Coloma, L. A.; et al. (2018). Ron, S. R.; Merino-Viteri, A. & Ortiz, D. A. (eds.). "Atelopus longirostris". Anfibios del Ecuador. Version 2018.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 30 October 2018.
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