Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog
CR

Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog

Plectrohyla teuchestes

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

Plectrohyla teuchestes is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Guatemala and only known with certainty from its type locality on the southern slope of the Sierra de Xucaneb, in the Alta Verapaz Department. There is also a report from another locality in Alta Verapaz. Frogs from Honduras now known as Plectrohyla exquisita were formerly included in this species.

The Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog faces severe pressure from chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrioididomycosis), a disease implicated in catastrophic amphibian declines across Guatemala's highland cloud forests. Its narrow, high-elevation range compounds vulnerability, as deforestation for agriculture and fuelwood collection continues to degrade and fragment remaining stream-side forest habitat. Small, isolated populations resulting from this fragmentation face elevated extinction risk from stochastic events and reduced genetic diversity.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits primary and secondary cloud forests in Guatemala's volcanic highlands, specifically occupying the canopy and understory of moss-rich montane forests between 2,400-3,200 meters elevation. The frogs require the consistently high humidity and stable temperatures characteristic of cloud forest environments, often found among bromeliads and other epiphytic vegetation.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in HYLIDAE

VU

Maracas Heart-tongued Frog

Phyllodytes tuberculosus

Declining
VU

Papallacta Treefrog

Hyloscirtus psarolaimus

Declining
VU

Scinax rupestris

Unknown
CR

Nyctimantis pomba

Declining

Threatened in Guatemala

EN

Arachnothryx tacanensis

Declining
EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
Conant's Mushroomtongue SalamanderVU

Conant's Mushroomtongue Salamander

Bolitoglossa conanti

Declining
VU

Phrygiopilus acanthophallus

Stable

Frequently asked questions

Why is Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog faces severe pressure from chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrioididomycosis), a disease implicated in catastrophic amphibian declines across Guatemala's highland cloud forests. Its narrow, high-elevation range compounds vulnerability, as deforestation for agriculture and fuelwood collection continues to degrade and fragment remaining stream-side forest habitat. Small, isolated populations resulting from this fragmentation face elevated extinction risk from stochastic events and reduced genetic diversity.
Where does Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog live?
Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog occurs in Guatemala. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog?
The main threats to Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog are 1.1, 11.1, 2.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.