Eleutherodactylus cavernicola
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
AMPHIBIA |
ANURA |
ELEUTHERODACTYLIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Eleutherodactylus cavernicola |
| Species Authority: |
Lynn, 1954 |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Critically Endangered
B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2010 |
| Assessor/s: |
Blair Hedges, Susan Koenig, Byron Wilson |
| 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 Area of Occupancy is probably less than 10km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and the quality of its habitat in the Portland Ridge Peninsula, Jamaica, is declining.
|
| History: |
| 2004 |
– |
Critically Endangered
|
| 1996 |
– |
Vulnerable
|
| 1994 |
– |
Indeterminate
(Groombridge 1994)
|
|
Geographic Range
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Population
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| Population: |
It is a very rare species and is difficult to find. It was last seen in 1984 (Hedges and Díaz 2009), but there have been no surveys for the species since.
|
| Population Trend: |
Unknown
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
It has only been recorded inhabiting caves in moderately well-forested areas. Eggs are laid among rocks and it breeds by direct development.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
The caves in which it occurs on the Portland Ridge Peninsula are being disturbed by humans, including by people occupying caves illegally. There is also significant disturbance of the habitat from agriculture, the nearby lighthouse, and from touristic activities.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
It is not known to occur in any protected areas, but both caves are currently within an area designated as a national park for the future (although this is not yet confirmed). One cave is currently within the Jackson Bay Hunting Club.
|