CR

Aromobates leopardalis

Local name: Mucubají Skunk Frog

Declining

Overview

Aromobates leopardalis is a species of frog in the family Aromobatidae. It is endemic to the Mérida of western Venezuela, with one population within the Sierra Nevada National Park.

Aromobates leopardalis faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted Venezuelan range. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts on montane cloud forest ecosystems, which are experiencing altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases. Chytrid fungal disease poses an additional significant threat to this amphibian, as documented in related Venezuelan poison frog populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane cloud forests and humid tropical forests at elevations between 1,200-2,000 meters in the Venezuelan Andes. It requires pristine forest environments with high humidity levels and is typically found near streams and in leaf litter of undisturbed primary forest.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· majorShrubland· majorGrassland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species 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

Frequently asked questions

Why is Mucubají Skunk Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Mucubají Skunk 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 leopardalis faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted Venezuelan range. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts on montane cloud forest ecosystems, which are experiencing altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases. Chytrid fungal disease poses an additional significant threat to this amphibian, as documented in related Venezuelan poison frog populations.
Where does Mucubají Skunk Frog live?
Mucubají Skunk Frog 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 Mucubají Skunk Frog?
The main threats to Mucubají Skunk Frog are 8.1, 8.2, 9.3.4, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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