Magdalena Rocket Frog
EN

Magdalena Rocket Frog

Colostethus ruthveni

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Colostethus%22_ruthveni

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Colostethus ruthveni faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in the Colombian Andes are cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching. The species' restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while climate change threatens to shift the cool, humid conditions essential for its survival to higher elevations. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and mining activities further degrades the pristine stream habitats this poison dart frog requires for breeding.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits pristine cloud forests and montane rainforests in the Colombian Andes, typically found near clear, fast-flowing streams at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters. It requires cool, humid conditions with dense vegetation cover and clean water sources for breeding and larval development.

Other threatened species in Dendrobatidae

EN

Lehmann's Rocket Frog

Hyloxalus lehmanni

Unknown
EN

Urrao Rocket Frog

Hyloxalus breviquartus

Unknown
Loja Rocket FrogEN

Loja Rocket Frog

Hyloxalus elachyhistus

Unknown
Turquoise-bellied Poison FrogVU

Turquoise-bellied Poison Frog

Epipedobates espinosai

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Magdalena Rocket Frog classified as Endangered?
Magdalena Rocket Frog is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Colostethus ruthveni faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in the Colombian Andes are cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching. The species' restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while climate change threatens to shift the cool, humid conditions essential for its survival to higher elevations. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and mining activities further degrades the pristine stream habitats this poison dart frog requires for breeding.
Where does Magdalena Rocket Frog live?
Magdalena Rocket Frog 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 Magdalena Rocket Frog?
The main threats to Magdalena Rocket Frog are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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