CR

Pico Blanco Treefrog

Isthmohyla pictipes

Declining

Overview

Isthmohyla pictipes is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in Costa Rica and possibly Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Isthmohyla pictipes faces severe population decline primarily due to the devastating chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) that has decimated amphibian populations across Central America. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in Costa Rica's montane regions has further fragmented the species' already limited range. Climate change is altering the cool, moist conditions essential for this high-elevation specialist, pushing suitable habitat to increasingly restricted mountaintop refugia.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits cool, humid montane cloud forests and elfin woodlands at elevations between 1,400-2,400 meters in Costa Rica's Cordillera de Talamanca. It requires pristine forest canopy and understory vegetation with consistent moisture levels and stable temperatures typical of high-elevation tropical montane ecosystems.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in HYLIDAE

VU

Maracas Heart-tongued Frog

Phyllodytes tuberculosus

Declining
VU

Papallacta Treefrog

Hyloscirtus psarolaimus

Declining
VU

Scinax rupestris

Unknown
CR

Nyctimantis pomba

Declining

Threatened in Costa Rica

EN

Passiflora chimuensis

Unknown
EN

Palicourea brenesii

Unknown
EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
CR

Mespilodaphne paradoxa

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Pico Blanco Treefrog classified as Critically Endangered?
Pico Blanco Treefrog 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. Isthmohyla pictipes faces severe population decline primarily due to the devastating chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) that has decimated amphibian populations across Central America. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in Costa Rica's montane regions has further fragmented the species' already limited range. Climate change is altering the cool, moist conditions essential for this high-elevation specialist, pushing suitable habitat to increasingly restricted mountaintop refugia.
Where does Pico Blanco Treefrog live?
Pico Blanco Treefrog occurs in Costa Rica, and Panama. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Pico Blanco Treefrog?
The main threats to Pico Blanco Treefrog are 11.1, 2.1, 5.3, and 8.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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