Carchi Andes toad

Rhaebo colomai

The Carchi Andes toad, ''Rhaebo colomai'', is a species of toad endemic to the western slopes of the Andes in northern Ecuador and southern Colombia. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to a restricted range and habitat loss.
Carchi Andes toad - top view, Rio Ñambi, Colombia Let's end the Rio Ñambi coverage with a bang. Meet a very rare and critically endangered frog, the Carchi Andean Toad (Rhaebo colomai).

This species was previously only known from two localities in the province of Carchi, northwestern Ecuador (Cabacera del Rio Baboso and Chical). It was first discovered and described in 1985. 

Within Ecuador, it was then never found again, and declared extinct. 

In 2015, a 3rd location was added: Reserva Río Ñambí, Colombia. Where these pictures were taken. Formally within Ecuador it is still listed as exctinct or possibly exctinct, yet there's this 2017 report of a rediscovery in Ecuador:

https://noticias.usfq.edu.ec/2017/08/sapo-andino-que-se-creia-extinto-se.html

Within Ecuador, it is under severe threat as both locations there are in the middle of a major deforestation area. The last IUCN assessment is from 2016 and assumes 900 adult individuals and declining.

However, within Río Ñambí it is common "enough", meaning individuals are seen almost every day. We certainly don't have a spectacular story regarding the actual discovery. It was a "oh look, there's one". It was on a leaf just above a tree trunk, directly on the edge of a path. It was calm and made no attempt to flee during our photo shoot. We didn't catch it, just left it where it was found, untouched.

Even if seen regularly here, they don't seem to be photographed that often, so I'll be generous in sharing many shots.
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79250/carchi_andes_toad_-_top_view_2_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79252/carchi_andes_toad_-_full_body_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79249/carchi_andes_toad_-_frontal_2_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79251/carchi_andes_toad_-_frontal_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79254/carchi_andes_toad_-_head_rio_ambi_colombia.html Carchi Andes toad,Colombia,Colombia 2018,Colombia South,Fall,Geotagged,Rhaebo colomai,Rio Ñambi,South America

Appearance

''Rhaebo colomai'' are medium-sized toads: males measure 33–38 mm and females 55–59 mm in snout–vent length.
Carchi Andes toad - full body, Rio Ñambi, Colombia Let's end the Rio Ñambi coverage with a bang. Meet a very rare and critically endangered frog, the Carchi Andean Toad (Rhaebo colomai).

This species was previously only known from two localities in the province of Carchi, northwestern Ecuador (Cabacera del Rio Baboso and Chical). It was first discovered and described in 1985. 

Within Ecuador, it was then never found again, and declared extinct. 

In 2015, a 3rd location was added: Reserva Río Ñambí, Colombia. Where these pictures were taken. Formally within Ecuador it is still listed as exctinct or possibly exctinct, yet there's this 2017 report of a rediscovery in Ecuador:

https://noticias.usfq.edu.ec/2017/08/sapo-andino-que-se-creia-extinto-se.html

Within Ecuador, it is under severe threat as both locations there are in the middle of a major deforestation area. The last IUCN assessment is from 2016 and assumes 900 adult individuals and declining.

However, within Río Ñambí it is common "enough", meaning individuals are seen almost every day. We certainly don't have a spectacular story regarding the actual discovery. It was a "oh look, there's one". It was on a leaf just above a tree trunk, directly on the edge of a path. It was calm and made no attempt to flee during our photo shoot. We didn't catch it, just left it where it was found, untouched.

Even if seen regularly here, they don't seem to be photographed that often, so I'll be generous in sharing many shots.
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79250/carchi_andes_toad_-_top_view_2_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79248/carchi_andes_toad_-_top_view_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79249/carchi_andes_toad_-_frontal_2_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79251/carchi_andes_toad_-_frontal_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79254/carchi_andes_toad_-_head_rio_ambi_colombia.html Carchi Andes toad,Colombia,Colombia 2018,Colombia South,Rhaebo colomai,Rio Ñambi,South America

Status

This species is known only from three locations: the type locality , one other locality close by in the province of Carchi, in the northwestern Andes of Ecuador, and one locality on the Colombian Massif in the Nariño Department. It has been recorded from 1,180 to 1,500 m asl.

The holotype was collected on a branch some 50 cm above the ground in the forest of a small creek at night. A male was collected at night sitting on a tree trunk in a creek, while a female was collected in the afternoon on the forest floor near a creek. The stomach of a female was crammed with ants.

The type locality has been severely impacted by habitat destruction as a result of agriculture and logging. In addition, spraying of herbicides in Colombia to control crops is polluting the species' habitat. An unknown intrinsic factor may also be responsible for the species' scarcity.
Carchi Andes toad - frontal 2, Rio Ñambi, Colombia Let's end the Rio Ñambi coverage with a bang. Meet a very rare and critically endangered frog, the Carchi Andean Toad (Rhaebo colomai).

This species was previously only known from two localities in the province of Carchi, northwestern Ecuador (Cabacera del Rio Baboso and Chical). It was first discovered and described in 1985. 

Within Ecuador, it was then never found again, and declared extinct. 

In 2015, a 3rd location was added: Reserva Río Ñambí, Colombia. Where these pictures were taken. Formally within Ecuador it is still listed as exctinct or possibly exctinct, yet there's this 2017 report of a rediscovery in Ecuador:

https://noticias.usfq.edu.ec/2017/08/sapo-andino-que-se-creia-extinto-se.html

Within Ecuador, it is under severe threat as both locations there are in the middle of a major deforestation area. The last IUCN assessment is from 2016 and assumes 900 adult individuals and declining.

However, within Río Ñambí it is common "enough", meaning individuals are seen almost every day. We certainly don't have a spectacular story regarding the actual discovery. It was a "oh look, there's one". It was on a leaf just above a tree trunk, directly on the edge of a path. It was calm and made no attempt to flee during our photo shoot. We didn't catch it, just left it where it was found, untouched.

Even if seen regularly here, they don't seem to be photographed that often, so I'll be generous in sharing many shots.
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79250/carchi_andes_toad_-_top_view_2_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79248/carchi_andes_toad_-_top_view_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79252/carchi_andes_toad_-_full_body_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79251/carchi_andes_toad_-_frontal_rio_ambi_colombia.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79254/carchi_andes_toad_-_head_rio_ambi_colombia.html Carchi Andes toad,Colombia,Colombia 2018,Colombia South,Rhaebo colomai,Rio Ñambi,South America

Habitat

This species is known only from three locations: the type locality , one other locality close by in the province of Carchi, in the northwestern Andes of Ecuador, and one locality on the Colombian Massif in the Nariño Department. It has been recorded from 1,180 to 1,500 m asl.

The holotype was collected on a branch some 50 cm above the ground in the forest of a small creek at night. A male was collected at night sitting on a tree trunk in a creek, while a female was collected in the afternoon on the forest floor near a creek. The stomach of a female was crammed with ants.

The type locality has been severely impacted by habitat destruction as a result of agriculture and logging. In addition, spraying of herbicides in Colombia to control crops is polluting the species' habitat. An unknown intrinsic factor may also be responsible for the species' scarcity.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

Status: Endangered
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAmphibia
OrderAnura
FamilyBufonidae
GenusRhaebo
SpeciesR. colomai
Photographed in
Colombia