Centrolene heloderma is a species of frog in the family Centrolenidae from the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. It is also known as Pichincha giant glass frog or bumpy glassfrog.[2]

Centrolene heloderma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Centrolenidae
Genus: Centrolene
Species:
C. heloderma
Binomial name
Centrolene heloderma
(Duellman [fr], 1981)
Synonyms

Centrolenella heloderma Duellman, 1981

Distribution edit

In Colombia it has been recorded from the western slopes of the Cordillera Occidental, in the Cauca, Risaralda, and Valle del Cauca Departments.[3] In Ecuador it has been recorded from the western Andes in the Pichincha and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Provinces.[4]

Description edit

Centrolene heloderma are small frogs (although among the generally small Centrolene, they are relatively large[5]): males measure 27–32 mm (1.1–1.3 in) in snout–vent length and females 32 mm (1.3 in) (based on one frog only). It has uniformly green dorsum covered with whitish tubercles. Its snout has a characteristic obtuse profile.[4][6] Females lay clutches up to 29 eggs on the upper side of leaves and very high from the water level. Upon hatching, the tadpoles drop down and develop in fast-flowing water.[6]

Habitat and conservation edit

Centrolene heloderma inhabits the upper elevations of cloud forest, and is only found in mature forest.[1] It is an uncommon frog that is active at night and difficult to see. However, males can be heard calling from the vegetation near streams and waterfalls.[6]

In Ecuador Centrolene heloderma has disappeared from two known locations (including the type locality where it was last seen in 1979) and is now only known from one location.[4][6] In Colombia it was last recorded in 1996.[1] Its disappearance has been attributed to changing climatic patterns, with habitat loss, alien predatory fish, pollution, and chytridiomycosis as other potential contributing factors.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2019). "Centrolene heloderma". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T54916A85878225. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T54916A85878225.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Centrolene heloderma (Duellman, 1981)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  3. ^ Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2014). "Centrolene heloderma (Duellman, 1981)". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.05.2015.0. www.batrachia.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Guayasamin, J. M. & Frenkel, C. (2013). "Centrolene heloderma". Ron, S. R., Guayasamin, J. M., Yanez-Muñoz, M. H., Merino-Viteri, A., Ortiz, D. A. y Nicolalde, D. A. 2014. AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2014.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  5. ^ Guayasamin, J. M.; Bustamante, M. R.; Almeida-Reinoso, D. & Funk, W. C. (2006). "Glass frogs (Centrolenidae) of Yanayacu Biological Station, Ecuador, with the description of a new species and comments on centrolenid systematics". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 147 (4): 489–513. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2006.00223.x.
  6. ^ a b c d Juan M Guayasamin; Alejandro Arteaga (2013). "Bumpy Glassfrog Rana de cristal verrugosa". Tropical Herping. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 3 February 2015.