CR

Macaya Breast-spotted Frog

Eleutherodactylus thorectes

Declining

Overview

Eleutherodactylus thorectes is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Haiti and known from the Massif de la Hotte at high elevations. Specifically, it is known from Pic Macaya and Pic Formon at elevations of 1,700–2,340 m (5,580–7,680 ft) asl.

Its natural habitats are closed pine montane forest and cloud forest with shrubs, tree ferns, bromeliads, and climbing bamboo. With a snout-vent length of 12–15 mm, this slightly arboreal species is one of the smallest of the world's frogs. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by charcoal logging and agriculture.

It is known from the Pic Macaya National Park, but habitat degradation is occurring in the park too.

Eleutherodactylus thorectes faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited Puerto Rican range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and natural disasters such as hurricanes. Invasive species and pollution from agricultural runoff further compound the pressures on remaining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered frog inhabits montane forests and humid woodlands in Puerto Rico, typically found in leaf litter and low vegetation of undisturbed forest areas. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions with high humidity and stable temperatures found in intact forest ecosystems.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Habitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationAwareness & communications

Other threatened species in ELEUTHERODACTYLIDAE

Oriente Yellow-mottled FrogVU

Oriente Yellow-mottled Frog

Eleutherodactylus ricordii

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Eleutherodactylus manantlanensisCR

Eleutherodactylus manantlanensis

Unknown
Eleutherodactylus amadeusCR

Eleutherodactylus amadeus

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CR

Haitian Marshfrog

Eleutherodactylus caribe

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Threatened in Haiti

EN

Reynosia cuneifolia

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VU

Neea collina

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Neea demissa

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EN

Plinia caricensis

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Macaya Breast-spotted Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Macaya Breast-spotted 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. Eleutherodactylus thorectes faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited Puerto Rican range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and natural disasters such as hurricanes. Invasive species and pollution from agricultural runoff further compound the pressures on remaining populations.
Where does Macaya Breast-spotted Frog live?
Macaya Breast-spotted Frog occurs in Haiti. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Macaya Breast-spotted Frog?
The main threats to Macaya Breast-spotted Frog are 11.1, 11.4, 2.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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