Eleutherodactylus nortoni
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
AMPHIBIA |
ANURA |
ELEUTHERODACTYLIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Eleutherodactylus nortoni |
| Species Authority: |
Schwartz, 1976 |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Spiny Giant Frog |
|
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Critically Endangered
A3c
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2010 |
| Assessor/s: |
Blair Hedges, Sixto Inchaustegui, Robert Powell |
| Reviewer/s: |
Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson, Neil Cox and Bruce Young) |
| Contributor/s: |
|
Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered because of an expected population decline of greater than 80% over the next ten years, predicted from severe degradation of the species' habitat on Hispaniola.
|
| History: |
| 2004 |
– |
Critically Endangered
|
|
Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
This species is restricted to the Massif de la Hotte and the Massif de la Selle, in Haiti, and Sierra de Bahoruco, in the Dominican Republic, Hispaniola. It has been recorded from 576-1,515 m asl. |
| Countries: |
Native: Dominican Republic; Haiti |
| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population
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| Population: |
It is an uncommon species. It was last recorded in 2006 (Hedges and Díaz 2009).
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
It is usually found in sinkhole caves in upland broadleaf forest and forest remnants, and has not been recorded from disturbed habitats. Males call from tall vegetation and rocks. Eggs are laid on the ground, and it breeds by direct development.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
The primary threat is habitat destruction (due to charcoaling and agriculture), which is ongoing even in the protected areas of the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti and the Massif de la Selle. Similarly, deforestation is taking place at the one known locality in the Dominican Republic as a result of mining, charcoaling, and agriculture.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
Although the species occurs in the Parc National Macaya and the Parc National Morne La Visite in Haiti, there is no management of these areas for conservation, and the habitat continues to be destroyed. It is also known from Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco in the Dominican Republic, which is better managed than protected areas in Haiti; however, degradation of the habitat within the park's limits continues. Strengthening the management of the existing protected areas network is essential, as is maintenance of the remaining habitat within the range of the species. Survey work is necessary to determine the current population status of this species.
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