Atelopus halihelos, the Morona-Santiago stubfoot toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.[1] The IUCN estimates that there’s only 0-49 individuals left in the wild.[1]
Atelopus halihelos | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Bufonidae |
Genus: | Atelopus |
Species: | A. halihelos
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Binomial name | |
Atelopus halihelos Peters, 1973
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An individual named Sad Santiago was one of the last remaining of the species. An expedition, led by Jaime Culebras, aimed to breed him with a female he found in the cloud forest of the Ecuadorian Andes.[2]
While they did not successfully produce any eggs, another expedition was sent and found 1 male and 1 female which successfully produced offspring, raising hope this species can be saved.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Atelopus halihelos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T54517A190202584. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T54517A190202584.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Planet Earth's latest drama: the sex life of a frog". Yahoo News. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2023-12-11.