Colombian Giant Toad
CR

Colombian Giant Toad

Rhaebo blombergi

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blomberg's_toad

Overview

Blomberg's toad, also known as the Colombian giant toad, is a very large species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in rainforests at altitudes between 200 and 650 metres in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. It has been recorded in Florida in 1963, apparently because of pet escape or release, but did not get established.

Rhaebo blombergi faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in Ecuador's coastal lowlands. The species is particularly vulnerable to chytrid fungal infections, which have devastated amphibian populations throughout the region. Mining activities and pollution from agricultural runoff further degrade the remaining forest fragments where this toad persists.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits humid lowland forests and forest edges in western Ecuador, typically found in areas with dense vegetation and permanent water sources for breeding. It occurs in both primary and secondary forest habitats at elevations below 500 meters.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· majorWetlands (inland)· major

Conservation measures underway

Habitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislation

Other threatened species in BUFONIDAE

EN

Mertensophryne howelli

Declining
EN

Carchi Andes Toad

Rhaebo colomai

Declining
EN

Rhinella cristinae

Declining
EN

Atelopus nahumae

Declining

Threatened in Colombia

EN

Helena's Marsupial Frog

Gastrotheca helenae

Stable
VU

Cavendishia macrocephala

Unknown
EN

Cavendishia sessiliflora

Unknown
VU

Macleania crassa

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Colombian Giant Toad classified as Critically Endangered?
Colombian Giant Toad 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. Rhaebo blombergi faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in Ecuador's coastal lowlands. The species is particularly vulnerable to chytrid fungal infections, which have devastated amphibian populations throughout the region. Mining activities and pollution from agricultural runoff further degrade the remaining forest fragments where this toad persists.
Where does Colombian Giant Toad live?
Colombian Giant Toad occurs in Colombia, Ecuador, Estonia, Germany, United States, and Venezuela. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Colombian Giant Toad?
The main threats to Colombian Giant Toad are 11.1, 2.1, 3.2, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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