IUCN Species of the Day: Itatiaia Highland Frog

 

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm)

Photo credit: Ivan Sazima

 

The Itatiaia Highland Frog, Holoaden bradei, is listed as ‘CRITICALLY ENDANGERED’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Restricted to just one small area of the Itatiaia Mountains in south-eastern Brazil, the species has not been recorded alive for about 30 years, and may already have become extinct.

This small frog has not been recorded outside of a single small area of under ten square kilometres, and may have declined as a result of a reduction in the quality of its habitat. Tourism and fire have degraded parts of its open grassland and sparse forest habitat, but the reasons for its disappearance are unknown.

The range of the Itatiaia Highland Frog occurs within the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, which should hopefully afford the species some protection. However, surveys are needed to determine whether this rare and little-known amphibian is still extant. If it is found, urgent conservation measures, including the continued preservation of its habitat, will be needed to save the remaining population.

 

Geographic Range of the Itatiaia Highland Frog

Credit: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

 

To learn more about the Itatiaia Highland Frog, click here. Or visit the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ by clicking their logo below.

 

To learn more about the Bush Warriors “Species of the Day” feature, please click here and read up on our initiative to raise awareness about the loss of earth’s biodiversity.

 

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