Melanophryniscus stelzneri

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AMPHIBIA	ANURA	BUFONIDAE

Scientific Name:	Melanophryniscus stelzneri
Species Authority:	(Weyenbergh, 1875)
Taxonomic Notes:	Two subspecies recognized: M.s. stelzneri and M.s. spegazzinii. Argentinean populations previously referred to as M.s. fulvoguttatus belong to Melanophryniscus klappenbachi. This form is probably a complex of more than one species.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2004
Assessor/s:	Esteban Lavilla, Diego Baldo, Lily Rodríguez
Reviewer/s:	Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson, Neil Cox and Bruce Young)
Contributor/s:
Justification: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known only from Argentina, where it has a fragmented distribution in the following provinces: Buenos Aires (undescribed subspecies); Córdoba (M.s. stelzneri); San Luis (M.s. stelzneri), and Salta (M.s. spegazzinii). It occurs from sea level up to 1,750m asl. De la Riva et al. (2000) and Köhler (2000) consider that this species might occur in Bolivia.
Countries:	Native: Argentina
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is very common in isolated populations in Córdoba. However, the subspecies M.s. spegazzini has not been seen since it was discovered (it was described in 1961).
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It occurs in grasslands with rocky outcrops. Explosive breeder. The gelatinous egg masses are attached to the submerged stems of temporary shallow ponds, streams, and bogs. In San Luis, reproduces in roadside ditches. Somewhat tolerant of habitat changes as long as water sources do not disappear.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	None. Adapts well to agriculture, occurring in rice plantations. This species is harvested for the international pet trade in Argentina.

Major Threat(s):

None. Adapts well to agriculture, occurring in rice plantations. This species is harvested for the international pet trade in Argentina.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Occurs in several protected areas, including the Pampa de Achala Hydrological Reserve. Monitoring of numbers extracted for pet trade needed. Surveys are needed to relocate the subspecies M.s. spegazzini.

Conservation Actions:

Occurs in several protected areas, including the Pampa de Achala Hydrological Reserve. Monitoring of numbers extracted for pet trade needed. Surveys are needed to relocate the subspecies M.s. spegazzini.

Bibliography [top]

	Cei, J.M. 1980. Amphibians of Argentina. Monitore Zoologico Italiano N.S. Monografia. Céspedez, J.A. and Motte, M. 2001. Distribución de Sapos del Género Melanophryniscus (Gallardo, 1961) en Argentina y Paraguay (Anura: Bufonidae). Boletín de la Asociación Herpetológica Española: 71-76. De la Riva, I., Köhler, J., Lötters, S. and Reichle, S. 2000. Ten years of research on Bolivian amphibians: updated checklist, distribution, taxonomic problems, literature and iconography. Revista Espanola de Herpetologia: 19-164. IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004. Köhler, J. 2000. Amphibian diversity in Bolivia: a study with special reference to montane forest regions. Bonner Zoologische Monographien: 1-243. Lavilla, E.O., Barrionuevo, S. and Baldo, D. 2002. Los anfibios insuficientamente conocidos de la Republica Argentina. Una reevaluacion. Cuadernos de Herpetología: 99-118. Lavilla, E.O., Ponssa, M.L., Baldo, D., Basso, N., Bosso, A., Cespedez, J., Chebez, J.C., Faivovich, J., Ferrari, L., Lajmanovich, R., Langone, J.A., Peltzer, P., Ubeda, C., Vaira, M. and Vera Candioti, F. 2000. Categorización de los Anfibios de Argentina. Categorización de los Anfibios y Reptiles de la República Argentina: 11-34.

Cei, J.M. 1980. Amphibians of Argentina. Monitore Zoologico Italiano N.S. Monografia.

Céspedez, J.A. and Motte, M. 2001. Distribución de Sapos del Género Melanophryniscus (Gallardo, 1961) en Argentina y Paraguay (Anura: Bufonidae). Boletín de la Asociación Herpetológica Española: 71-76.

De la Riva, I., Köhler, J., Lötters, S. and Reichle, S. 2000. Ten years of research on Bolivian amphibians: updated checklist, distribution, taxonomic problems, literature and iconography. Revista Espanola de Herpetologia: 19-164.

IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004.

Köhler, J. 2000. Amphibian diversity in Bolivia: a study with special reference to montane forest regions. Bonner Zoologische Monographien: 1-243.

Lavilla, E.O., Barrionuevo, S. and Baldo, D. 2002. Los anfibios insuficientamente conocidos de la Republica Argentina. Una reevaluacion. Cuadernos de Herpetología: 99-118.

Lavilla, E.O., Ponssa, M.L., Baldo, D., Basso, N., Bosso, A., Cespedez, J., Chebez, J.C., Faivovich, J., Ferrari, L., Lajmanovich, R., Langone, J.A., Peltzer, P., Ubeda, C., Vaira, M. and Vera Candioti, F. 2000. Categorización de los Anfibios de Argentina. Categorización de los Anfibios y Reptiles de la República Argentina: 11-34.

Citation:	Esteban Lavilla, Diego Baldo, Lily Rodríguez 2004. Melanophryniscus stelzneri. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2013.
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