CR

La Palma Robber Frog

Pristimantis caprifer

Declining

Overview

Pristimantis caprifer is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Pristimantis caprifer faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely limited range in the Cordillera Oriental of Peru. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented the remaining cloud forest habitat, while climate change is causing upslope shifts in suitable temperature and humidity conditions. The species' restricted distribution to a single mountain range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane cloud forests and elfin forests at elevations between 2,800-3,200 meters in the Cordillera Oriental of Peru. It requires the specific microclimate conditions of these high-altitude forests, including consistent moisture levels and cool temperatures typical of Andean cloud forest ecosystems.

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in STRABOMANTIDAE

CR

Microkayla boettgeri

Declining
CR

Barriga's Rainfrog

Pristimantis barrigai

Declining
VU

Yanayacu Robber Frog

Pristimantis bicantus

Declining
EN

Cundinamarca Robber Frog

Pristimantis affinis

Declining

Threatened in Colombia

EN

Helena's Marsupial Frog

Gastrotheca helenae

Stable
VU

Cavendishia macrocephala

Unknown
EN

Cavendishia sessiliflora

Unknown
VU

Macleania crassa

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is La Palma Robber Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
La Palma Robber 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. Pristimantis caprifer faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely limited range in the Cordillera Oriental of Peru. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented the remaining cloud forest habitat, while climate change is causing upslope shifts in suitable temperature and humidity conditions. The species' restricted distribution to a single mountain range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction.
Where does La Palma Robber Frog live?
La Palma Robber Frog occurs in Colombia, and Ecuador. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to La Palma Robber Frog?
The main threats to La Palma Robber Frog are 1.1, 2.1, 3.2, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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