Atelopus cruciger

Atelopus cruciger, also known as the Veragua stubfoot toad or Rancho Grande harlequin frog, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Venezuela and is known from the central Venezuelan Coastal Range.[1][2] The species was already suspected to be extinct because, despite considerable effort, none had been found since 1986. However, in 2003, a small population was found,[1][3] with few other locations discovered later.[4] It is mainly threatened by chytridiomycosis.[1][5] It is locally called sapito rayado.[1]

Atelopus cruciger
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Atelopus
Species:
A. cruciger
Binomial name
Atelopus cruciger
(Lichtenstein and Martens, 1856)
Synonyms[2]

Phrynidium crucigerum Lichtenstein and Martens, 1856

Description

Adult males measure 28–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in) and adult females 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) in snout–vent length. The body is slender. The snout is pointed in dorsal view. No tympanum is visible, but the supratympanic crest is well developed. There are small rounded warts present on the dorsolateral surfaces, most prominently around the arm insertions and as a dorsolateral row. The fingers have basal webbing while the toes are slightly more webbed. The hind limbs are relatively long. Preserved specimens have greenish tan color that is lighter on the ventral side. The dorsal surfaces have dense brown vermiculation as well as a X-pattern behind the head.[3][6]

Diet

The main sources of food for these frogs are ants and other small insects.[6]

Habitat and conservation

Atelopus cruciger was historically abundant and widely spread in the Venezuelan Coastal Range at elevations up to 2,400 m (7,900 ft) above sea level, although most records were from gallery, cloud, and semi-deciduous forests at 500–2,000 m (1,600–6,600 ft) above sea level.[4] Atelopus cruciger usually occurs near streams and rivulets. These frogs are diurnal and often found on stones, but can also climb to vegetation up to 1.5 meters above the ground. Breeding takes place along swift-flowing streams.[1]

However, the species has undergone a dramatic decline,[1] and only few populations are known to persist. These are all at low altitudes (220–500 m (720–1,640 ft)) on the northern slope of the Henri Pittier National Park.[4][6] The main reason for the decline is believed to be chytridiomycosis. Many of the historic collections came from protected areas. Air pollution (acid rain) could also be a contributing factor, given the proximity to the industries in the Valencia-Maracay area.[1][4][6]

In culture
  • The frog appears on the reverse side of the Venezuelan Bs.S 5 banknote.

References
  1. Manzanilla, J.; La Marca, E.; Heyer, R. & Fernández-Badillo, E. (2004). "Atelopus cruciger". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T54502A11152124. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T54502A11152124.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Atelopus cruciger Müller, 1934". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  3. Lötters, Stefan; La Marca, Enrique & Vences, Miguel (2004). "Redescriptions of two toad species of the genus Atelopus from coastal Venezuela". Copeia. 2004 (2): 222–234. doi:10.1643/CH-03-045R1. JSTOR 1448560.
  4. Rodríguez-Contreras, Argelia; Señaris, J. Celsa; Lampo, Margarita; Rivero, Ramón (2008). "Rediscovery of Atelopus cruciger (Anura: Bufonidae): current status in the Cordillera de La Costa, Venezuela". Oryx. 42 (2): 301–304. doi:10.1017/S0030605308000082.
  5. Bonaccorso, E.; Guayasamin, J.M.; Méndez, D. & Speare, R. (2003). "Chytridomycosis as a possible cause of population declines in Atelopus cruciger (Anura: Bufonidae)". Herpetological Review. 34: 331–334.
  6. "Atelopus cruciger - Rancho Grande Harlequin Frog". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
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