Espada's Rocket Frog
Hyloxalus pulchellus
Hyloxalus pulchellus is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae from the Andes of northern Ecuador and southern Colombia.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Amphibia
Order
Anura
Family
Dendrobatidae
Genus
Hyloxalus
Espada's Rocket Frog belongs to the family Dendrobatidae, order Anura, within the Amphibia class.
Species Profile
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.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
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.
Threats
Climate change altering temperature and precipitation patterns
Habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion
Stream habitat degradation and fragmentation
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Water pollution from agricultural runoff and mining
Community Sightings
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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). Espada's Rocket Frog (Hyloxalus pulchellus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/espadas-rocket-frog