Atelopus nahumae explained

Atelopus nahumae (San Lorenzo harlequin frog) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from humid montane forest of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in the Magdalena, La Guajira, and Cesar Departments.

Description

Adult males measure 32mm37mm and females 45mm51mm in snout–vent length. The snout is acuminate or sub-acuminate. The tympanum is absent. The fingers have traces of basal webbing while the toes are fully (toes I to III) to partially webbed (toe IV). Skin is dorsally smooth but bears granules, small conical tubers, and small warts. Dorsal coloration is dark or light brown, with our without spots. There is a brown X-mark in the supra-scapular area. Some specimens have a dark-brown mid-dorsal line.

Habitat and conservation

Atelopus nahumae inhabits sub-Andean forests at elevations of 1900m–2800mm (6,200feet–9,200feetm) above sea level. It can also be found in closed-canopy secondary forests and riparian forests. Breeds takes place in streams.

This species is only known from four locations. Aggregations appear very localized, with nearby, suitable habitat uninhabited. It is potentially threatened by chytridiomycosis (although as of 2014, the disease has not been detected in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta) and by habitat loss caused by agriculture and logging. The species occurs within the Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta as well as the adjacent El Dorado Nature Reserve.