VU

Espada's Rocket Frog

Hyloxalus pulchellus

Unknown

Overview

Hyloxalus pulchellus is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae from the Andes of northern Ecuador and southern Colombia.

Espada's Rocket Frog faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban development throughout its range in the northern Andes. Climate change poses additional risks by altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that are critical for this species' breeding and survival. Pollution from agricultural runoff and mining activities further degrades the pristine stream habitats this species requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits cloud forests and montane rainforests along streams and rocky areas at elevations between 1,500-3,000 meters in the northern Andes. It requires pristine, fast-flowing streams with rocky substrates and dense riparian vegetation 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 Espada's Rocket Frog classified as Vulnerable?
Espada's Rocket Frog is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Espada's Rocket Frog faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban development throughout its range in the northern Andes. Climate change poses additional risks by altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that are critical for this species' breeding and survival. Pollution from agricultural runoff and mining activities further degrades the pristine stream habitats this species requires.
Where does Espada's Rocket Frog live?
Espada's 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 Espada's Rocket Frog?
The main threats to Espada's 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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