Itatiaia Highland Frog
CR

Itatiaia Highland Frog

Holoaden bradei

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holoaden_bradei

Overview

Holoaden bradei, or the Itatiaia highland frog, is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to the Itatiaia Mountains of south-eastern Brazil. It is restricted to an area of 10 km2 at an elevation of 2,400 to 2,600, the type locality being at 22°21′S, 44°44′W at a location known as Alto Itatiaia.

H. bradei is found among stones, mulch, and terrestrial bromeliads, in which it breeds through direct development. H.

bradei may already be extinct in the wild because it has not been recorded in the wild for several decades.

Holoaden bradei faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely limited range in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. The species' restriction to a tiny area of less than 10 square kilometers makes it exceptionally vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and complete habitat loss. Urban development and infrastructure projects pose additional immediate risks to the remaining forest patches where this endemic frog survives.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered frog is endemic to a very small area of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, specifically inhabiting leaf litter and low vegetation in humid montane forest environments. The species requires intact forest floor microhabitats with adequate moisture and organic matter for breeding and foraging.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in STRABOMANTIDAE

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Itatiaia Highland Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Itatiaia Highland 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. Holoaden bradei faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely limited range in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. The species' restriction to a tiny area of less than 10 square kilometers makes it exceptionally vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and complete habitat loss. Urban development and infrastructure projects pose additional immediate risks to the remaining forest patches where this endemic frog survives.
Where does Itatiaia Highland Frog live?
Itatiaia Highland 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 Itatiaia Highland Frog?
The main threats to Itatiaia Highland Frog are 5.3, 8.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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