Plectrohyla acanthodes

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AMPHIBIA	ANURA	HYLIDAE

Scientific Name:	Plectrohyla acanthodes
Species Authority:	Duellman and Campbell, 1992

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2006

Assessor/s:

Georgina Santos-Barrera, Luis Canseco-Márquez, Manuel Acevedo, Antonio Muñoz Alonso, Joseph Mendelson III

Reviewer/s:

Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson, Neil Cox and Bruce Young)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered because its current Extent of Occurrence is less than 100km2, it is now only known from one location, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, and in the number of mature individuals, in Guatemala and Mexico, most likely due to chytridiomycosis.

History:

2004

–

Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is found in the northern slopes of the Meseta Central de Chiapas, Mexico, and the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, western Guatemala, from 1,540-2,200m asl.
Countries:	Native: Guatemala; Mexico
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It was common according to Duellman (2001) but it might now be uncommon. Recent searches in Guatemala have failed to find the species, and it seems that this population is declining. It is known now from only one locality in Chiapas, in a fragile ecosystem supporting only a few individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species inhabits cloud forests, and is associated with mountain streams where it breeds.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The expansion of agriculture and human settlements in northern Chiapas and Guatemala are a major threat. However, the observed decrease might also be due to chytridiomycosis, which has seriously affected other stream-breeding amphibians in the region.

Major Threat(s):

The expansion of agriculture and human settlements in northern Chiapas and Guatemala are a major threat. However, the observed decrease might also be due to chytridiomycosis, which has seriously affected other stream-breeding amphibians in the region.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is not known to occur in any protected areas, and protection of the Chiapan cloud forests is urgently needed to ensure the persistence of this, and other endemic, species in the region. Given the possible threat of chytridiomycosis, recommended conservation measures might need to include the establishment of a captive-breeding programme. Further research is needed to determine whether or not the species has been affected by chytrid. This species is protected by Mexican law under the "Special Protection" category (Pr).

Conservation Actions:

This species is not known to occur in any protected areas, and protection of the Chiapan cloud forests is urgently needed to ensure the persistence of this, and other endemic, species in the region. Given the possible threat of chytridiomycosis, recommended conservation measures might need to include the establishment of a captive-breeding programme. Further research is needed to determine whether or not the species has been affected by chytrid. This species is protected by Mexican law under the "Special Protection" category (Pr).

Citation:	Georgina Santos-Barrera, Luis Canseco-Márquez, Manuel Acevedo, Antonio Muñoz Alonso, Joseph Mendelson III 2006. Plectrohyla acanthodes. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 May 2013.
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