CR

Edwards' Rocket Frog

Hyloxalus edwardsi

Declining

Overview

Hyloxalus edwardsi is a species of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae. It is endemic to the Cordillera Oriental in the Cundinamarca Department, Colombia.

Hyloxalus edwardsi faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited Andean range. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, as rising temperatures force populations to higher elevations where suitable habitat becomes increasingly scarce. Chytrid fungal disease, which has devastated amphibian populations throughout the Neotropics, poses an additional critical threat to remaining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This poison dart frog inhabits cloud forests and montane rainforests in the Andes, typically found near streams and seepages between 1,500-2,500 meters elevation. The species requires high humidity environments with dense vegetation cover and clean water sources for breeding.

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in DENDROBATIDAE

Blessed Poison FrogVU

Blessed Poison Frog

Ranitomeya benedicta

Declining
EN

Colostethus ucumari

Unknown
VU

Ameerega pepperi

Declining
EN

Darwin Wallace Poison-Frog

Epipedobates darwinwallacei

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 Edwards' Rocket Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Edwards' Rocket Frog 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. Hyloxalus edwardsi faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited Andean range. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, as rising temperatures force populations to higher elevations where suitable habitat becomes increasingly scarce. Chytrid fungal disease, which has devastated amphibian populations throughout the Neotropics, poses an additional critical threat to remaining populations.
Where does Edwards' Rocket Frog live?
Edwards' Rocket Frog occurs in Colombia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Edwards' Rocket Frog?
The main threats to Edwards' Rocket Frog are 1.1, 5.3, 9.3.4, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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