CR

McCranie's Robber Frog

Craugastor chrysozetetes

Declining

Overview

Craugastor chrysozetetes is a possibly extinct species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Honduras where it is only known from near its type locality on the Cerro Búfalo, Cordillera de Nombre de Dios, at the edge of the Pico Bonito National Park. The common name McCranie's robber frog has been coined for this species.

However, James McCranie himself has argued that this name "should be rejected in favor of a name associated with the type locality instead of a name tied to one of the three authors who named this species".

Craugastor chrysozetetes faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited Costa Rican range. The species is particularly vulnerable to chytrid fungal infections, which have devastated amphibian populations throughout Central America. Climate change compounds these threats by altering the moisture and temperature conditions essential for this species' survival and reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane cloud forests and humid premontane forests in Costa Rica, typically found in leaf litter and low vegetation in areas with consistent moisture and moderate temperatures. It requires intact forest canopy cover to maintain the humid microclimate conditions necessary for its survival.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationCompliance and enforcement

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CR

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Threatened in Honduras

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Frequently asked questions

Why is McCranie's Robber Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
McCranie's 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. Craugastor chrysozetetes faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited Costa Rican range. The species is particularly vulnerable to chytrid fungal infections, which have devastated amphibian populations throughout Central America. Climate change compounds these threats by altering the moisture and temperature conditions essential for this species' survival and reproduction.
Where does McCranie's Robber Frog live?
McCranie's Robber Frog occurs in Honduras. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to McCranie's Robber Frog?
The main threats to McCranie's Robber Frog are 11.4, 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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