CR

Craugastor obesus

Unknown

Overview

Craugastor obesus is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is found in the Caribbean slopes of southeastern Costa Rica and western Panama. Its natural habitats are lowland moist forest, premontane and lower montane wet forest and rainforest. It can be found in the spray zone on rocks, boulders, and cliff faces in the middle of moderate-sized cascading streams.

Craugastor obesus faces severe population decline primarily due to the devastating chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) that has decimated amphibian populations across Central America. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited montane forest range has further fragmented remaining populations. Climate change is altering the cool, moist conditions this species requires, pushing suitable habitat to higher elevations where less area is available.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits cool, humid montane cloud forests and pine-oak forests at elevations between 1,200-2,400 meters in the mountains of Guatemala and southern Mexico. It requires areas with permanent moisture, leaf litter, and fallen logs for breeding and shelter.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in CRAUGASTORIDAE

CR

Craugastor castanedai

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EN

Craugastor gutschei

Declining
EN

Blair's Dirt Frog

Craugastor blairi

Declining
EN

Sagui Dirt Frog

Craugastor sagui

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Threatened in Costa Rica

EN

Passiflora chimuensis

Unknown
EN

Palicourea brenesii

Unknown
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Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
CR

Mespilodaphne paradoxa

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Craugastor obesus classified as Critically Endangered?
Craugastor obesus 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. Craugastor obesus faces severe population decline primarily due to the devastating chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) that has decimated amphibian populations across Central America. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited montane forest range has further fragmented remaining populations. Climate change is altering the cool, moist conditions this species requires, pushing suitable habitat to higher elevations where less area is available.
Where does Craugastor obesus live?
Craugastor obesus occurs in Costa Rica, and Panama. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Craugastor obesus?
The main threats to Craugastor obesus are 11.1, 8.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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