Hyloxalus pulchellus is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae from northern Ecuador and southern Colombia.[1] [2] Colombina source does not include Nariño but does include Putumayo Department.[3] [4]
Hyloxalus pulchellus is found in the inter-Andean páramos of northern Ecuador and adjacent Colombia (Nariño and Cauca Departments) and on the eastern slopes of the Andes from southern Colombia south in Ecuador to the headwaters of the Pastaza River.[1] [2] Colombian source does not include Nariño but does include Putumayo Department.[3] Its altitudinal range is 1590m–2970mm (5,220feet–9,740feetm) asl; at the higher end of this range it is the only frog species of this kind.[4]
The frog's range includes many protected parks: Parque Nacional Sumaco Napo-Galeras, Reserva Ecológica Antisana, Parque Nacional Llanganates, Reserva Ecológica Cayambe-Coca, Bosque Protector Sierra Azul, and more in Colombia.
Males measure 17mm22mm and females 20mm24mm in snout–vent length. Dorsum is dark brown with diffuse greenish tint. It has an oblique lateral stripe extending to eye, cream with iridescent golden tint in colour and sometimes edged with brown or black.[2] [4]
Male frogs call in or from under grass. The call is a buzz emitted 72 times during 4 minutes.[2]
Its natural habitats are dry and humid montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss, possibly also climate change and chytridiomycosis. It has disappeared from many sites in Ecuador but remains common in Colombia.[4]
The IUCN classifies this frog as near threatened. It suffers from habitat loss associated with the construction of human habitation and roads, logging, and the introduction of non-native predatory fish. There was a large dieoff of these frogs during the1990s, but scientists are not certain what caused it. Climate change and the fungal disease chytridiomycosis are the two main possibilities.