Eleutherodactylus michaelschmidi
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
AMPHIBIA |
ANURA |
ELEUTHERODACTYLIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Eleutherodactylus michaelschmidi |
| Species Authority: |
Díaz, Cádiz & Navarro, 2007 |
| Taxonomic Notes: |
Eleutherodactylus michaelschmidi can be distinguished from other similar species by a combination of external characters, advertisement call and chromosome patterns (Díaz et al. 2007). |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Endangered
B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2008 |
| Assessor/s: |
Luis M.Díaz |
| Reviewer/s: |
Ariadne Angulo and Simon Stuart |
| Contributor/s: |
|
Justification:
Listed as Endangered, in view of its extent of occurrence of less than 5,000 km2 and area of occupancy of less than 500 km2, with all individuals in fewer than five locations, and a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.
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Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
Eleutherodactylus michaelschmidi is known from La Ceiba [type locality, 20 11'07'' N, 76 20'14'' W, 408 masl], Municipio Tercer Frente, and the region of Los Negros, Municipio Contramaestre, both localities in the karstic valleys and premontane areas at the north slope of Sierra Maestra, Province of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba (Díaz et al., 2007). The species is currently known only from this restricted area (L.M. Díaz, pers. comm. 2008). |
| Countries: |
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| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population
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| Population: |
Although this is considered to be a relatively common species, it was never recorded before during previous surveys to this area (L.M. Díaz, pers. comm. 2008).
|
| Population Trend: |
Unknown
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Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
The limestone mountains and premontane valleys inhabited by Eleutherodactylus michaelschmidi are covered by secondary vegetation and the remnants of a semideciduous forest. Many places, including the type locality, are widely used for coffee plantations. Specimens are often found at night (21:00–1:00 hours), mostly on rocky surfaces and cave entrances, but may also be found on fallen trunks. Other anuran species in this area include Bufo peltocephalus, B. taladai, Osteopilus septentrionalis, Eleutherodactylus atkinsi, E. auriculatus, E. cuneatus, E. ionthus, E. leberi, E. ronaldi, and E. varleyi (Díaz et al., 2007).
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| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
The area where this species occurs is used for coffee plantations, and it is also affected by urban encroachment: many places within the area have exposed karst, without vegetation cover, and the area is crossed by various roads and tracks (L.M. Díaz, pers. comm. 2008).
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Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
Cuba's Centro Nacional de Areas Protegidas considers the area where the species is found to be at medium risk. The species has not been found in a nearby protected area (L.M. Díaz, pers. comm. 2008).
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