January 2012 Vol. 100 www.amphibians.orgFrogLogNews from the herpetological community Regional Focus South America 100th Edition INSIDE News from the ASG Regional Updates Global Focus Recent Publications General Announcements Paintings of Ameerega yoshina (orange and red morphs) from a Field Guide to Aposematic Poison Frogs And More..... (Dendrobatidae) of the Andean Countries: Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela © 2012 Ted R. Kahn “Lost” Frogs - Leaping Ahead of Phase II Extinction Which species do you think should be in the Top What’s your plan? Ten? FrogLog Vol. 100 | January 2012 | 1 The conservation status of Amphibians of Argentina By Marcos Vaira & E.O. Lavilla en years after the first assessment of the amphibians of Argentina (Lavilla et al. 2000), thirty batrachologists from Figure 1. Results of the last assessment of the conservation status of the amphibians of Argentina Tdifferent academic institutions covering the whole country (empty bars), compared to those of 2000 (filled bars). conducted a new workshop to reevaluate the status of the amphib- ian fauna, using new compiled taxonomic information, geographic distribution, and ecological data on the species diversity. Of the 175 species of anuran amphibians in Argentina, 73 were assessed as ei- ther threatened or Data Deficient (DD) during the workshop. This represented a 10% decrease in the number of species in these cat- egories, compared to the previous assessment in 2000, primarily due to a decrease in the number of DD species (Fig. 1). The decline in DD species illustrates the substantial increase in research over the last 10 years on areas and species previously poorly or com- pletely unknown in Argentina. However it should also be noted that there was also an increment in the number of Critically Endangered and Endangered species (Fig. 1). Literature Cited Habitat loss was the main threat to amphibians in Argentina ten Akmentins, M. S., Pereyra, L. C. & J. Lescano (2009). Primer registro de una población asilvestrada de rana toro (Lithobates catesbeianus) en la provincia de years ago (Lavilla, 2001), and although there are new pressures and Córdoba, Argentina. Notas sobre la biología de la especie. Cuadernos de herpetología differential risks depending on the groups, this, and similar factors 23: 25-32. Akmentins, M. S. , L. C. Pereyra & M. Vaira. (2011). Using sighting records to like ecosystem degradation, disturbance and destruction continue infer extinction in three endemic Argentinean marsupial frogs. Animal Conservation leading the ranking of threats. In many cases habitat destruction doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2011.00494.x Arellano, M. L., M. Agostini, R. Herrera, M. Steciow, E. O. Lavilla & D. Barraso has occurred recently or is ongoing, making it challenging to ascer- (2006). Nuevo hallazgo de quitridiomicosis en el noreste de la provincia de Buenos tain the magnitude of the impact on amphibian populations (Vaira, Aires. VII Congreso Argentino de Herpetología, Corrientes: 124. Arellano, M. L., D. P. Ferraro, M. M. Steciow & E. O. Lavilla (2009). Infection 2003; Fox et al. 2005; Barrionnuevo & Ponssa, 2008; Vaira et al. by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the yellow belly frog 2011). The production and exportation of commodities, such as soy (Elachistocleis bicolor) from Argentina. Herpetological Journal, 19: 217-220. Barraso, D.A., R. Cajade, S.J. Nenda, G. Baloriani, & R. Herrera (2009). beans, between 2001-2003 played a significant role in helping Ar- Introduction of the American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus (Anura Ranidae) gentina overcome a deep economic crisis. These activities however in natural and modified environments: an increasing conservation problem in Argentina. South American Journal of Herpetology 4, 69–75. also had a direct impact on the environment and provide an ad- Barrionuevo, J. S. & M. L. Ponssa (2008). Decline of three species of the genus ditional complexity to regional conservation efforts. Telmatobius (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Tucumán Province, Argentina. Herpetologica 64: 47–62. Barrionuevo, S. & S. Mangione (2006). Chytridiomicosis in two species of Invasive alien species in Argentina certainly pose a threat although Telmatobius (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Argentina. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 73: 171-174. no detailed studies have yet been undertaken, there have however Brunetti, A. E. (2008). Telmatobius oxycephalus (NCN). Predation. been a few reports on predation by trout and bullfrog (i.e. Sanab- Herpetological Review 39: 462 – 463. Fox, S. F., J. H. Yoshioka, M. E. Cuello & C. Úbeda (2005). Status, distribution, ria et al. 2005; Pereyra et al. 2006; Brunetti, 2008; Akmentins et and ecology of an endangered semi-aquatic frog (Atelognathus patagonicus) of al. 2009; Barraso et al. 2009). The chytrid fungus has also been Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Copeia 2005: 921-929. Fox, S. F., A. L. Greer, R. Torres-Cervantes & J. P. Collins (2006). First case of detected in several species tested by histological determination ranavirus-associated morbidity and mortlity in natural populations of the South (i.e. Herrera et al. 2005; Arellano et al. 2006; 2009; Barrionuevo American frog Atelognathus patagonicus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 72: 87-92. Ghirardi, R., J. N. Lescano, M. S. Longo, G. Robledo, M. M. Steciow & M. G. & Mangione, 2006; Fox et al. 2006; Ghirardi et al. 2009; 2011), Perotti (2009). Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Argentina: first record in Leptodactylus gracilis and another record in Leptodactylus ocellatus. Herpetological and the need for further studies is evident. Finally, for most of the Review, 40: 175-176. species at risks the available information is limited, but the declines Ghirardi, R., M. G. Perotti, M. M. Steciow; M. L. Arellano & G. Natale (2011). Potential distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Argentina: implications and disappearances reported (i.e. Barrionuevo & Ponssa, 2008; in amphibian conservation. Hydrobiologia 659: 111-115. Akmentins et al. 2011) show the need to make quick decisions and Herrera, R. A., M. M. Steciow & G. S. Natale (2005). Chytrid fungus parasitizing the wild amphibian Leptodactylus ocellatus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Argentina. suggests the need to prioritize certain actions and focus on selected Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 64: 247–252. areas. Lavilla, E. O. (2001). Amenazas, declinaciones poblacionales y extinciones en anfibios argentinos. Cuadernos de herpetología 15: 59-82. Lavilla, E. O. et al. (2000). Categorización de los Anfibios de Argentina. It is clear that much research remains to be done, but also the time Categorización de los Anfibios y Reptiles de la República Argentina. E. O. Lavilla, E. left to accomplish such tasks is limited. To obtain the information, Richard & G. J. Scrocchi (eds). S. M. de Tucumán, AHA: 11-34. Pereyra, M.; D. Baldo & E.R. Kraukzuc (2006). La “rana toro” en la selva atlántica immediate intensive monitoring is needed to address quantitative interior Argentina: un nuevo problema de conservación. Cuadernos de Herpetología amphibian population fluctuations and to examine the present-day 20 (1): 37-41. Sanabria, E. A.; L. B. Quiroga, F. Arias & R. Cortez (2010). A new species status of Argentinean amphibians, as indicated by the recent ap- of Rhinella (Anura: Bufonidae) from Ischigualasto Provincial Park, San Juan, praisal. These results will be published soon, in a special number Argentina. Zootaxa, 2396: 50–60 Vaira, M. (2003). Report of a breeding aggregation extirpation of an endemic of Cuadernos de Herpetología; in the meantime, the results of the marsupial frog, Gastrotheca christiani, in Argentina. Froglog 60: 3. last assessment of the amphibians of Argentina, compared to those Vaira, M., L. Ferrari & M. S. Akmentins (2011). Vocal repertoire of an endangered marsupial frog of Argentina, Gastrotheca christiani (Anura: Hemiphractidae) of 2000 are summarized in Figure 1. Herpetology Notes 4: 279-284. 26 | FrogLog Vol. 100| January 2012.