Brazilian Redbelly Toad
CR

Brazilian Redbelly Toad

Melanophryniscus cambaraensis

Unknown

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

Overview

Melanophryniscus cambaraensis is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, rivers, intermittent freshwater marshes, and canals and ditches. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Melanophryniscus cambaraensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted range in southern Brazil. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, with mining activities and infrastructure development posing additional pressures on remaining habitat fragments. Climate change may further exacerbate threats by altering the specific microhabitat conditions this endemic toad requires for breeding and survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered toad inhabits highland grasslands and rocky outcrops in the Atlantic Forest region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The species is associated with temporary pools and seepages in open campo habitats at elevations between 400-800 meters.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in BUFONIDAE

EN

Mertensophryne howelli

Declining
EN

Carchi Andes Toad

Rhaebo colomai

Declining
EN

Rhinella cristinae

Declining
EN

Atelopus nahumae

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Brazilian Redbelly Toad classified as Critically Endangered?
Brazilian Redbelly Toad 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. Melanophryniscus cambaraensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted range in southern Brazil. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, with mining activities and infrastructure development posing additional pressures on remaining habitat fragments. Climate change may further exacerbate threats by altering the specific microhabitat conditions this endemic toad requires for breeding and survival.
Where does Brazilian Redbelly Toad live?
Brazilian Redbelly Toad 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 Brazilian Redbelly Toad?
The main threats to Brazilian Redbelly Toad are 1.1, 11.1, 2.1, and 2.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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