Melanophryniscus montevidensis
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
AMPHIBIA |
ANURA |
BUFONIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Melanophryniscus montevidensis |
| Species Authority: |
(Phillippi, 1902) |
Common Name/s:
| Spanish |
– |
Sapito De Darwin |
|
| Synonym/s: |
Melanophryniscus stelzneri Gallardo, 1991 ssp. montevidensis
|
| Taxonomic Notes: |
Elevated to full species status by Klappenbach and Langone (1992). |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Vulnerable
A2ac; B1ab(iii,iv,v)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2004 |
| Assessor/s: |
Jose Langone |
| Reviewer/s: |
Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson, Neil Cox and Bruce Young) |
Justification:
Listed as Vulnerable because of an observed population decline, estimated to be more than 30% over the last ten years, due to habitat destruction and degradation; and because its Extent of Occurrence is less than 20,000 km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, in the number of subpopulations, and in the number of mature individuals in coastal Uruguay.
|
Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
This species is restricted to coastal Uruguay (Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, and Rocha Departments) and adjacent Brazil (one locality in Rio Grande do Sul state). It occurs at sea level.
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| Countries: |
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| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
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Population
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| Population: |
This species is in decline in some areas and extirpated in others. Nevertheless, it is still common at several localities.
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| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
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Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
It is a diurnal species inhabiting coastal sand dunes. It is an explosive breeder, and may be found in large numbers in temporary pools after heavy rains; the larvae develop in these pools. It is not tolerant of habitat disturbance.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial; Freshwater |
| Major Threat(s): |
The major threat to this species is habitat loss due to human settlements, exotic tree plantations, and the drainage of wetlands.
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Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
It does not occur in any protected areas, and there is a need for improved protection of sites at which this species is known to occur.
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