Atelopus orcesi (Common Name: Orces’s Harlequin Frog) is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. It has not been seen since 1988 and is possibly extinct.
| Atelopus orcesi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Atelopus |
| Species: | A. orcesi
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| Binomial name | |
| Atelopus orcesi Coloma, Duellman, Almendáriz, Ron, Terán-Valdez & Guayasamin, 2010
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Taxonomy
editAtelopus orcesi was first described in 2010. Its specific epithet honors Gustavo Edmundo Orcés Villagómez, a pioneering Ecuadoran zoologist. [2]
Description
editAtelopus orcesi is a medium-sized member of its genus, with males averaging 30mm in length and females averaging 40mm. Males and females can also be distinguished by the longer, more slender forelegs that the females possess and the distinct rows of warts down the sides of the males. Both sexes have distinct X-shaped marks on the back of their heads. [2]
Habitat and Distribution
editThe species is only known from its type locality, in the eastern portion of Cordillera Occidental (Ecuador), Sucumbíos Province, Ecuador. Its preferred habitat consists of montane cloud forest. [2]
History and Conservation
editThe only known specimens of Atelopus orcesi were collected in May of 1988 by Ana María Velasco. Despite surveys, no further individuals have been seen, including an intensive survey at the species' type locality in 2009. It's believed that its main threats are climate change and diseases. [2] Chytridiomycosis is not known to have played a role in the population decline of Atelopus orcesi. Still, it has caused other amphibian populations in Ecuador to decrease dramatically. [3] In 2018, the IUCN listed the species as Critically Endangered and possibly extinct. [1]
References
edit- ^ a b IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Atelopus orcesi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T18435530A56602182. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T18435530A56602182.en. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d Coloma, Luis A.; Almendáriz, Ana; Ron, Santiago; Terán-Valdez, Andrea; Guayasamin, Juan M.; Duellman, William E. (August 2010). "Five New (Extinct?) Species Of Atelopus (Anura: Bufonidae) From Andean Colombia, Ecuador, And Peru". Zootaxa. 2574: 1–54. doi:10.5281/zenodo.197448. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ Ron, Santiago; Merino-Viteri, Andres (January 2000). "Amphibian declines in Ecuador: Overview and first report of chytridiomycosis from South America". Froglog. 42: 2–3. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
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