Rhaebo olallai explained

Rhaebo olallai is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to Ecuador. Its common name is Tandayapa Andes toad, after its type locality, Tandayapa, in the Pichincha Province);^[1] the species has not been seen there after 1970, despite search efforts.^[2] It is only known from another locality in the Imbabura Province of Ecuador (Manduriacu River).^{[1] [2]} It has also been reported from one locality on the Colombian Massif, Nariño Department, Colombia, but these have been shown to represent Rhaebo colomai.^[3]

Description

Rhaebo olallai are medium-sized toads: males measure 37mm38mm and females 57mm60mm in snout–vent length. Dorsum is coffee-coloured. The parotoid glands are enlarged and conspicuous. Flanks have conspicuous glands, distributed linearly or irregular patterns.^[4]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitat are tropical premontane forests of western foothills of the Andes.^[4] All individuals of the Manduriacu River population were found near small forest streams, perched on branches or leaves, on average 1.4 metres but up to 4 metres over ground.^[2]

It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture and logging, and by mining and hydropower. Only one population is known. The species is classified as "Critically Endangered".^[3]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rhaebo olallai (Hoogmoed, 1985) . Frost, Darrel R. . 2015. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 . American Museum of Natural History . 18 September 2015.
2. Lynch, R.L.. Kohn, S.. Ayala-Varela, F.. Hamilton, P.S.. Ron, S.R.. 2014. http://amphibian-reptile-conservation.org/pdfs/Volume/Vol_8_no_1/ARC_8_1_[Special_Section_1-7_e75_high_res.pdf Rediscovery of Andinophryne olallai Hoogmoed, 1985 (Anura, Bufonidae), an enigmatic and endangered Andean toad]. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. Special section. 8. 1. 1 - 7. .
3. Ron. Santiago R. . Mueses-Cisneros . Jonh Jairo . Gutiérrez-Cárdenas . Paul David Alfonso . Rojas-Rivera . Alejandra . Lynch . Ryan L. . Rocha . Carlos F. Duarte . Galarza . Gabriela . 2015 . Systematics of the endangered toad genus Andinophryne (Anura: Bufonidae): phylogenetic position and synonymy under the genus Rhaebo . Zootaxa . 3947 . 3 . 347–366 . 10.11646/zootaxa.3947.3.3 . 25947741. free .
4. Web site: Rhaebo olallai . Ron, S. R. . Varela-Jaramillo, A. . Frenkel, C. . 2013–2015 . Ron, S. R., Guayasamin, J. M., Yanez-Muñoz, M. H., Merino-Viteri, A., Ortiz, D. A. y Nicolalde, D. A. 2014. AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2014.0 . Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ) . 18 September 2015.