Atelopus nanay
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Atelopus nanay | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Atelopus |
| Species: | A. nanay |
| Binomial name | |
| Atelopus nanay Coloma, 2002 | |
Atelopus nanay, the Sad harlequin frog, is a species of toads in the family Bufonidae. Atelopus nanay is endemic to Ecuador and inhabits subtropical and tropical high-altitude grasslands, rivers, freshwater marshes, and freshwater springs. It is currently threatened by habitat loss and the Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis fungus.[2][3] The species name nanay stems from the Quechua word for "sadness", which was chosen to bring attention to the decline of Atelopus species in the Ecuadorian Andes, and to express the loss felt by the native Ecuadorian people.[4]
Adult
Atelopus nanay is a toad species located in and around the Cajas National Park in Ecuador, occupying a roughly 85 Km2 range. Species in the genus Atelopus are also called "harlequin frogs" for their variation in color and are known for being lethargic, diurnal, and small.[4] This genus also houses the greatest species diversity within the Bufinoid family.[5] Atelopus nanay has distinct black skin with dark green or brown markings which is generally smooth but can be warty with small white spiculae along its sides. The underside can range from black to creamy gray to brown. Females range in length from 31.7 - 39.6mm while males are smaller and range in length from 23.6 - 27.3mm.[4] The fingers are not webbed while the feet are partially webbed. Atelopus nanay's head is pointed, the snout extends past the mandible, and the ears are internal and not visible.[4]
Tadpoles
Tadpoles range from 5.9 - 16.2mm long depending on the developmental stage, with an elongated ovoid body, black coloration, and translucent fins.[4] All Atelopus tadpoles are also uniquely equipped with a sucker on their abdomen which is used to attach themselves to rocks in the streams where they develop.[6]
Habitat
Atelopus nanay has only been found within an 85 km2 range in and around Cajas National Park along the Cordillera Occidental mountain range in Ecuador.[4][3] This subtropical/tropical montane wetland environment sits at ~4000m above sea level, receives 100–200 cm of rain annually, and has an average annual temperature of 3-6 °C.[4][3] While not much is known about A.nanay's ecology, researchers have noted that they are often associated with streams.[5]
