CR

Brachycephalus pernix

Stable

Overview

Brachycephalus pernix is a small and brightly coloured species of frog in the family Brachycephalidae. It is endemic to Paraná in southeastern Brazil and only known from a single location at an altitude of 1,135–1,405 m (3,724–4,610 ft) on Serra da Baitaca in Serra da Baitaca State Park. This diurnal species lives among leaf litter on the floor of Atlantic rainforest.

Brachycephalus pernix faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban expansion and agricultural conversion in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions from small-scale habitat modifications. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific microhabitat conditions required by this specialized frog.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits the leaf litter and understory of Atlantic Forest remnants in southeastern Brazil, typically found in areas with high humidity and stable microclimatic conditions. It requires intact forest floor environments with dense vegetation cover and minimal human disturbance.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSite/area managementHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies managementSpecies recoveryAwareness & communications

Other threatened species in BRACHYCEPHALIDAE

CR

Ischnocnema melanopygia

Stable
CR

Brachycephalus bufonoides

Declining
EN

Brachycephalus garbeanus

Declining
CR

Brachycephalus boticario

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Brachycephalus pernix classified as Critically Endangered?
Brachycephalus pernix 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. Brachycephalus pernix faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban expansion and agricultural conversion in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions from small-scale habitat modifications. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific microhabitat conditions required by this specialized frog.
Where does Brachycephalus pernix live?
Brachycephalus pernix occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Brachycephalus pernix?
The main threats to Brachycephalus pernix are 11.1, 2.1, 2.3, and 6.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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