At a Glance
The Río Faisanes Harlequin Toad is a small amphibian that lives in the high-altitude cloud forests of the Ecuadorian Andes. The species is rare, and scientists have only ever found it in a handful of spots. In 1976, scientists described the species from a subpopulation the Río Faisanes River, the species namesake. Now, scientists think that the species likely only lives in two places. One is in the municipal protected area
ACUS Río Chinambí and the other is the privately protected Dracula Reserve. Both localities are in Carchi province.
The disease chytridiomycosis and the degradation of the Río Faisanes Harlequin Toad’s forest habitat from agriculture, logging and human settlements have caused dramatic declines in the species. The toad was even lost to science from 1984 until 2012, even though scientists had tried searching for it.
The Río Faisanes Harlequin Toad is active during the day, especially in the rain, where it spends most of its time along the rocky river banks and stream beds. At night the toads will move to leaves that overhang the water. When it comes time to breed, the species lays eggs in fast-flowing streams and rivers attached to rocks.
At a glance
Taxa
Amphibians
Geography
Ecuador
Status
Critically Endangered
Habitat
Humid montane forest
Estimated Population
Fewer than 250
Threats
Crop and livestock agriculture, gold mining, logging, landslides, chytridiomycosis, pollution and climate change
Potential Recovery Actions
Habitat protection, conservation breeding, reintroductions
