Atelopus exiguus © Luis Coloma ROGLOG FNewsletter of the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Colorful Harlequin Frog Re-discovered in Colombia Luis Alberto Rueda Solano VOL 86 APRIL 2008 telopus carrikeri is a toad typically of uniform black color WHAt’s INSIDE Athat inhabits the paramos (3500 – 4800 msnm) of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Ruthven 1916). This species belongs to ignescens group since it has a robust body, with relatively short limbs and tubered skin (Lötters 1996). Until Cover story recently, there were no recent reports on Atelopus carrikeri, Colorful Harlequin Frog due to a lack of new explorations in the Sierra Nevada. The Re-discovered in Colombia Page 1 last report was from 1994 at El Paramo de Macostama, De- Around the World partamento de la Guajira and La Serrania de Cebolleta, De- Amphibians of Pakistan Page 2 partamento de Magdalena, Colombia. Amphibian Activities in Sri Lanka Page 4 Seed Grants 2008 Projects Funded Page 5 DAPTF Seed Grants Page 5 CEPF Reports Threatened Amphibians in the suc- culent Karoo hotspot of southern Namibia Page 6 Announcements Sabin Award for Amphibian Conservation Page 8 Instructions to Authors Page 9 Atelopus carrikeri © Luis Alberto Rueda Solano 1 ATELOPUS CARRIKERI DISCOVERED IN COLOMBIA Continued from Cover page important to note that 2 of these de Santa Marta a sanctuary for harle- In early February 2008 in La Ser- adults were sick. The re-discovery quin frogs in Colombia in contrast to rania de Cebolleta, I discovered of Atelopus carrikeri is significant other upperland areas where Atelo- an abundance of tadpoles and because it adds to the list of Atelo- pus are apparently already extinct. six adult males of a red mor- pus species that persist in the Sierra Author email: biobetorue@hotmail. pho of Atelopus carrikeri. It is Nevada, making the Sierra Nevada com AROUND THE WORLD Amphibians of Pakistan Muhammad Sharif Khan he arid sub tropical climate Tin Pakistan places constraints on the local amphibians. Howev- er, because of riparian Indus Val- ley, torrents in the sub Himalayas and subterranean karez channels in Balochistan, twenty four amphib- ian species and subspecies belong- ing to four families Bufonidae (10 species), Megophryidae (1), Mi- crohylidae (2), and Ranidae (11) are known from Pakistan (Khan. Bufo melanostictus © Muhammad Sharif Khan 2006, 2008). malayan and sub-Himalayan spe- Family Megophryidae Family Bufonidae cies. The olive toad B. olivaceus is The Tibetan lazy toad Scutiger Bufo stomaticus, excluding higher spottily distribution from the sub- nyingchiensis is the sole represen- mountain ranges, is the most com- Himalayas through plains to Bal- tative of this Tibetan family. It is mon toad throughout Pakistan. ochistan. However, B. surdus and known from the Himalayas be- Other species of toad: latastii, B. viridis zugmayeri are confined to tween 3000 and 3500 m and has baturae, pseudoraddei, siacheninsis, karez waters in Balochistan. been collected from Azad Kash- himalayanus and hazarensis are Hi- Bufo tadpoles are small, drab in mir, Gilgit and Dosai Plains in color, with char- the northwestern Himalayas. The acteristic bulg- tadpole has a long tail, and is a ing round body, rasper feeder. and a weak tail. They form loose Family Microhylidae schools along The ant frogs are represented by marginal waters, two species. The tiny Microhyla possess two rows ornata is widely distributed in the of denticles, with sub Himalayas and Punjab ripar- biting jaws, and ian system. The recently discov- are rasper feeders. ered larger south Indian species Uperodon systoma is a burrower, Bufo stomasticus © Muhammad Sharif Khan living underground in termite 2 AMPHIBIANS OF PaKISTAN Continued from previous page frogs from the genus Paa: P. bar- cash crops. Run-off of the chemi- and ant tunnels, and only com- moachensis and P. hazarensis are sub- cals into nearby ponds and puddles ing to the surface to breed during Himalayan, while P. sternosignata is kills eggs, tadpoles, and adults, and heavy rains. confined to the karez subterranean deter breeding individuals. The microhylid tadpole is water channels in Balochistan. Moreover, considerable num- transparent, filter feeds, and forms The ranid tadpoles are large, with ber of amphibians are crushed daily a long, strong muscular tail, and most under passing traffic while cross- are bottom macrophagus. The oral ing roads to reach their potential disc possesses simple or multicusped breeding sites. denticles, and most are macrophagus Frogs and toads at egg, tadpole carnivores. and adult stages are used in school, college and hospital laboratories Threats and conservation of Paki- for experimentation and tests and stani amphibians demonstration of vertebrate anat- The causes of global amphibian de- omy, causing considerable damage Euphlyctis cyanophictis clines are complex and vary from to the natural populations. Consid- place to place. Some of the main erable depletion has been observed midstream schools. factors implicated include ozone in natural population of Hoploba- layer depletion, global warming, ag- trachus tigerinus around the labora- Family Ranidae ricultural chemicals and chytrid fun- tories where this species is used as a Frogs of the family Ranidae are a gus. model animal for demonstration of heterogeneous assemblage, widely The aridity in Pakistan restricts vertebrate anatomy. Thankfully, as distributed in Indo-Pakistan sub- the local amphibian species to those yet no amphibians are used as food continent and Southeast Asia. Eu- areas retaining water for longer peri- in Pakistani culture. What will phlyctis cyanophlyctis is the most ods of time. As soon as summer sets happen in the future can’t be pre- widely distributed species in plains in they become active and feed, well dicted, however, because fast foot and sub-Himalayas. It comprises before monsoon rains; the boom restaurants are appearing rapidly in three subspecies: E. c. cyanophlyctis period of their activity. They utilize food markets. widely distributed in plains, E. c. To ensure the persistence of microspinulata known from Bal- healthy prosperous amphibian ochistan, and E. c. seistanica which communities in Pakistan, we need occurs along Afghan/Pakistan to establish protected swamps and border. Of the two cricket frogs wetlands as amphibian reserves Fejervarya limnocharis is widely throughout the plains and sub- distributed in the sub Himalayas montane areas of Pakistan. More- and upper Indus Valley, while F. over, under-road pathways (“frog- syhadrensis occurs in the lower In- ways”) need to be constructed dus Valley. The bull frog Hoploba- close to the wetlands which are trachus tigerinus is the largest and Hoplobatrachus tigerinus used as potential breeding sites by most widely distributed species in the local amphibian species to re- the plains. rains mostly for breeding and disper- duce considerably “road slaughter” The sub-Himalayan burrowing sal. of the amphibian species. frog Sphaeroteca breviceps is carried Amphibian activity is, however, by river waters in the plains, where marred by spraying of pesticide and Author email: typhlops2004@ya- it has a spotty distribution. agri-boost chemicals, since it is also hoo.com Of the three peculiar brook the peak period when pests attack 3 2008 - Year of the Frog - Activities from Sri Lanka Anslem de Silva Co-Chair, ASG Working Group, Sri Lanka. embers of the newly formed progress under the Co-Chair (AdS) MAmphibian Specialist Group along with a few members of the of Sri Lanka are undertaking the Executive Committee of the ASG following activities: (Sri Lanka), academics, veterinar- ians and ammeter herpetologists . 1. Conducting awareness programs for schools and the general public. 2. Conducting Status survey on amphibians Lankanectes corrugatus (Corrugated water 3. Survey to investigate the pat- frog)with ectromella © Anslem de Silva tern of malformations and para- sitic infection in amphibians of Sri The major threats posed to am- Lanka. phibians of the country are habitat loss, alterations and degradation. 4. Taxonomy projects. In addition, preliminary observa- tion made on Polypedates eques, an Sphaerotheca species with a sever wound. 5.Conservation of threatened spe- endemic frog inhabiting the high- © Anslem de Silva cies est plain of the country (Horton Plains National Park, 2000-2300 The researchers hope to exchange Sri Lanka is an island of 65,610 m) showed the presence of a life their findings with others doing km2 in area. The amphibian diver- threatening Proteocephalan Cestode similar projects in other countries sity and species richness per unit infection in 19 (31%) males of the as well as applying the results to area of land is one of the highest 61 studied. Recently (2006) frogs devising management strategies, in the world. Presently, a total of were observed with ectromella, a conduct awareness programs and 106 amphibian species are known malformation condition as reported in the preparation of Conservation from Sri Lanka. However, of these, by Meteyer (2000) in addition to Action Plan for amphibians of Sri 21 species are considered extinct. frogs with large wounds (similar to Lanka. Recent observations indicate that carcinoma). amphibians of the country are fac- Author email: [email protected] ing many threats. Additionally, many malformations and parasitic Editor’s note: The ASG’s Don infections were observed in frogs. Church recently returned from Sri Sri Lanka is an agricultural coun- Lanka, where he made significant try, and presently agrochemicals progress in advancing amphibian are widely used in agriculture and conservation by facilitating an un- plantations and the runoff water precedented agreement with the from these lands and industrial government to protect some of the Lankanectes corrugatus (Corrugated water waste accumulate in waters inhab- frog)with ectromella © Anslem de Silva most critical amphibian habitat. A ited by some frogs as well as pollute full report will be provided in the the natural habitats of frogs. Sever Thus, an island-wide project to in- next Froglog, along with reports of cases of parasitic infections and vestigate the pattern of malforma- conservation successes elsewhere.