CR

Molinari's Rocket Frog

Aromobates molinarii

Declining

Overview

Aromobates molinarii is a species of frog of the family Aromobatidae. It is endemic to Venezuelan Andes near Cascada de Bailadores and Las Playitas in the Mérida state.

Aromobates molinarii faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted Venezuelan range. Mining activities and infrastructure development have further fragmented its already limited cloud forest habitat. The species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks that could drive it to extinction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered poison frog inhabits cloud forests and montane humid forests in the Venezuelan Andes, typically found near streams and seepages at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters. The species requires pristine forest conditions with high humidity and stable temperatures characteristic of these fragile montane ecosystems.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in AROMOBATIDAE

CR

Anomaloglossus tepequem

Unknown
EN

Orellana's Collared Frog

Mannophryne orellana

Stable
EN

Forest Rocket Frog

Aromobates saltuensis

Declining
EN

Aromobates ericksonae

Declining

Threatened in Venezuela

EN

Helena's Marsupial Frog

Gastrotheca helenae

Stable
VU

Ternstroemia steyermarkii

Declining
VU

Lonchocarpus crassispermus

Declining
CR

Machaerium orthocarpum

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Molinari's Rocket Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Molinari's Rocket 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. Aromobates molinarii faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted Venezuelan range. Mining activities and infrastructure development have further fragmented its already limited cloud forest habitat. The species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks that could drive it to extinction.
Where does Molinari's Rocket Frog live?
Molinari's Rocket Frog occurs in Venezuela. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Molinari's Rocket Frog?
The main threats to Molinari's Rocket Frog are 2.1, 2.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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