Amphibians
Hyloxalus awaEndemic to Ecuador, the Hyloxalus awa inhabits humid sub-montane tropical forests. These frogs lay eggs near water on low vegetation, and then adult frogs carry the tadpoles on their backs to the freshwater where they continue to develop. This species is classified as vulnerable because of its small population that is continuing to decrease. The major threats to its population are habitat loss due to agriculture, logging and pollution caused by agriculture.
|
Bolitoglossa sima - Northwestern Climbing Salamander
The Bolitoglossa sima is also known as the Northwestern climbing salamander, and this species of salamanders is endemic to Ecuador. This amphibian can be found in dense wet forests and grassy fields. They are categorized as vulnerable because their small population is continuing to decrease. The major threats to their population include habitat destruction due to agriculture and logging.
|
Agalychnis spurrelli - Gliding Tree Frog
The Agalychnis spurrelli is more commonly known as the gliding tree frog. It gets this name because when it leaps, it glides because of the extensive webbing it has that acts as a parachute. This frog is native to Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama. They live in humid lowland forests. It is hard to find these frogs because they live in trees, so their abundance is difficult to determine. They are a nocturnal canopy frog. These frogs lay eggs on the upper-surfaces of leaves, and as the tadpoles hatch, they fall into the water below. The biggest threats to the gliding tree frog include deforestation for agricultural development, illegal crops, logging, and human settlement and pollution from the spraying of illegal crops. The population of these frogs in Ecuador are especially threatened by human pressure.
|
Rhaebo haematiticus - Truando ToadThe Rhaebo haematiticus is a species of toad that are more commonly known as the Truando toad. This toad is native to Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela. They live primarily in tropical mist forest and submontane humid forest especially long small streams and large rivers. When not breeding, they can be found farther away from the streams and rivers. The largest threats to this species of toad include habitat destruction and degradation due to agriculture, wood extraction, and cattle ranching. In Venezuela, it is threatened by dams and in Colombia, it is threatened by oil pollution. However, there are several protected areas in its range that are helping the species.
|
|