VUVulnerable

Cuban Bromeliad Frog

Eleutherodactylus varians

Eleutherodactylus varians is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Cuba and occurs in the central and eastern parts of the main island as well as on the Isla de Juventud.

2

Countries

01Classification

Taxonomy & Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Amphibia

Order

Anura

Family

Eleutherodactylidae

Genus

Eleutherodactylus

Cuban Bromeliad Frog belongs to the family Eleutherodactylidae, order Anura, within the Amphibia class.

02Description

Species Profile

Eleutherodactylus varians is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Cuba and occurs in the central and eastern parts of the main island as well as on the Isla de Juventud. Common names cliff robber frog and Cuban bromeliad frog have been proposed for it. Eleutherodactylus olibrus and Eleutherodactylus staurometopon are sometimes included in this species as subspecies.

The Cuban Bromeliad Frog faces significant threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and agricultural expansion across its Cuban range. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the moisture regimes essential for bromeliad ecosystems that this species depends upon. Its specialized habitat requirements and limited distribution make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.

Key Facts

IUCN StatusVulnerable (VU)
GroupAmphibians
03Habitat

Habitat & Distribution

This species inhabits humid montane forests and cloud forests where it lives primarily in bromeliad plants, particularly in the leaf axils and water-filled tanks of epiphytic bromeliads. It occurs in forested areas at moderate to high elevations where bromeliad communities are well-developed and moisture levels remain consistently high.

04Threats

Threats

Agricultural expansion and land conversion

HighOngoing

Habitat loss and deforestation

HighOngoing

Climate change affecting moisture regimes

MediumOngoing

Degradation of bromeliad plant communities

MediumOngoing

Limited distribution range vulnerability

MediumOngoing
06Range

Found in 2 Countries

Community

Community Sightings

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07Sources

Sources & Attribution

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Cuban Bromeliad Frog (Eleutherodactylus varians). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/cuban-bromeliad-frog

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