Holdridge's Toad

Incilius holdridgei, commonly known as Holdridge's toad, is a critically endangered amphibian species endemic to Costa Rica. This small toad was historically found in the montane cloud forests of the Cordillera de Tilarán, particularly in the vicinity of Monteverde. The species inhabits high-elevation tropical montane cloud forests, typically at elevations between 1,400 and 1,680 meters above sea level.

Like many amphibians in Central America's cloud forest ecosystems, Holdridge's toad has experienced severe population declines since the 1980s. The species has not been reliably observed in recent decades, with the last confirmed sightings occurring in the late 1980s. The primary threats to this species include habitat loss due to deforestation and agricultural expansion, climate change affecting cloud forest ecosystems, and the fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which has devastated amphibian populations throughout Central America.

The changing climate patterns have altered the cloud formation dynamics that are essential for maintaining the humid conditions required by cloud forest species. Conservation efforts for this species are limited by the uncertainty surrounding its current population status and distribution. Protection of remaining cloud forest habitat in Costa Rica's protected areas represents the primary conservation strategy, though targeted species-specific recovery programs have been challenging to implement given the lack of recent confirmed sightings.

This species inhabits tropical montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,400 and 1,680 meters in Costa Rica's Cordillera de Tilarán. These ecosystems are characterized by persistent cloud cover, high humidity, and cool temperatures that support unique biodiversity.