Atelopus pulcher

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.[3] Its natural habitats are lowland and premontane tropical forests. It is a diurnal and terrestrial species that breeds in streams.[1]

Atelopus pulcher
In Tarapoto, Peru
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Atelopus
Species:
A. pulcher
Binomial name
Atelopus pulcher

Description

Atelopus pulcher measures about 35 mm (1.4 in) in snout–vent length. It has a slender body with quite smooth skin. It is blackish brown above, with various light green markings.[4]

Breeding might occur throughout the year. The tadpoles grow to about 6 mm (0.24 in) in body length and 14 mm (0.55 in) in total length. The tadpole is dorso-ventrally flattened and has a large ventral suction disc behind its mouth. It is similar to other Atelopus tadpoles except that its upper beak is shorter than the lower one.[5]

Conservation

Atelopus pulcher is threatened by chytridiomycosis and habitat loss. It is relatively rare species that is declining in abundance and has disappeared from many known localities.[1] It is sometimes collected for the pet trade, and this might contribute to local declines.[6]

  • Atelopus pulcher, Tarapoto, Peru
  • Illustration by Robert Mintern.
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References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. 2018. Atelopus pulcher. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T54544A3016090. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T54544A3016090.en. Downloaded on 21 December 2018.
  2. "Atelopus pulcher". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Atelopus pulcher Boulenger, 1882". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  4. Boulenger, George Albert (1882). Catalogue of the Batrachia Salientia s. Ecaudata in the collection of the British Museum (2nd ed.). London: British Museum (Natural History). p. 154.
  5. Gascon, Claude (1989). "The tadpole of Atelopus pulcher Boulenger (Annura, Bufonidae) from Manaus, Amazonas" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 6 (2): 235–239. doi:10.1590/s0101-81751989000200007.
  6. La Marca, E.; Lips, K. R.; Lotters, S.; Puschendorf, R.; Ibanez, R.; Rueda-Almonacid, J. V.; Schulte, R.; Marty, C.; Castro, F.; Manzanilla-Puppo, J.; Garcia-Perez, J. E.; Bolanos, F.; Chaves, G.; Pounds, J. A.; Toral, E.; Young, B. E. (2005). "Catastrophic population declines and extinctions in Neotropical harlequin frogs (Bufonidae: Atelopus)". Biotropica. 37 (2): 190–201. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2005.00026.x. S2CID 56436484.
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