Itatiaia Highland Frog
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (probably extinct)
Tracks featuring this species:
‘Boana Boana Extinction Blues’, David Rothenberg
The Itatiaia highland frog (Holoaden bradei) is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It has historically been restricted to the Itatiaia Mountains of south-eastern Brazil, where it used to be found among stones, mulch, and bromeliad plants. This frog has not been seen for several decades, and is thought to already be extinct in the wild. The reasons for its disappearance are not yet well understood, but habitat fragmentation, wildfires, and disease are likely factors.
Photo Credit: 1977, Celio Haddad
Climate connections
Climate change presents a serious and emerging challenge to the survival of many amphibians, which are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. While habitat loss remains a key threat, climate change is now the most common cause of declines in around 30 - 40% of species. This is mostly due to rising temperatures and increasing periods of drought, which limits the ability of amphibians to keep themselves and their offspring moist. Research also suggests that when temperatures vary unpredictably, amphibians might succumb faster to chytridiomycosis - a fungus that has been responsible for killing large numbers of amphibians around the world.
Read more about the threats posed to amphibians by climate change.
