Isthmohyla calypsa
CR

Isthmohyla calypsa

Unknown

Photo: (c) STRI, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Overview

Isthmohyla calypsa, the Calypsa tree frog is a critically endangered, possibly extinct species of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is known from the southern Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica, Cerro Pando in Costa Rica and Panama, and the Pacific slope in southwestern Panama. It appears to now be extirpated from Costa Rica. Prior to its description in 1996, this species was confused with Isthmohyla lancasteri, a species now known from lower altitudes only.

Isthmohyla calypsa faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban development throughout its limited range in Central America. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts affecting montane cloud forest ecosystems, including altered precipitation patterns and temperature shifts that disrupt the delicate moisture balance these frogs require for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane cloud forests and humid premontane forests at elevations typically between 1,200-2,400 meters. It is associated with primary and secondary forest areas with dense canopy cover, high humidity, and frequent fog or mist that characterizes cloud forest ecosystems.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in HYLIDAE

VU

Maracas Heart-tongued Frog

Phyllodytes tuberculosus

Declining
VU

Papallacta Treefrog

Hyloscirtus psarolaimus

Declining
VU

Scinax rupestris

Unknown
CR

Nyctimantis pomba

Declining

Threatened in Costa Rica

EN

Passiflora chimuensis

Unknown
EN

Palicourea brenesii

Unknown
EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
CR

Mespilodaphne paradoxa

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Isthmohyla calypsa classified as Critically Endangered?
Isthmohyla calypsa 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. Isthmohyla calypsa faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban development throughout its limited range in Central America. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts affecting montane cloud forest ecosystems, including altered precipitation patterns and temperature shifts that disrupt the delicate moisture balance these frogs require for survival.
Where does Isthmohyla calypsa live?
Isthmohyla calypsa occurs in Costa Rica, and Panama. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Isthmohyla calypsa?
The main threats to Isthmohyla calypsa are 11.1, 2.1, 2.3, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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