CR

Pristimantis polemistes

Declining

Overview

Pristimantis polemistes is a species of frogs in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from the vicinity of its type locality in Urrao, Antioquia Department, on the western flank of the Cordillera Occidental. The specific name polemistes is Greek for "warrior" and refers to the insurgents that operated in the area of the type locality.

Pristimantis polemistes faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely limited range in the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. The species' restriction to high-elevation cloud forests makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat upslope with nowhere left to retreat. Mining activities and cattle ranching have further fragmented the remaining forest patches, isolating small populations and reducing genetic diversity.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane cloud forests and elfin forests at elevations between 2,800-3,200 meters in the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. It requires the persistent moisture and stable temperatures characteristic of these high-altitude cloud forest ecosystems.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in STRABOMANTIDAE

CR

Microkayla boettgeri

Declining
CR

Barriga's Rainfrog

Pristimantis barrigai

Declining
VU

Yanayacu Robber Frog

Pristimantis bicantus

Declining
EN

Cundinamarca Robber Frog

Pristimantis affinis

Declining

Threatened in Colombia

EN

Helena's Marsupial Frog

Gastrotheca helenae

Stable
VU

Cavendishia macrocephala

Unknown
EN

Cavendishia sessiliflora

Unknown
VU

Macleania crassa

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Pristimantis polemistes classified as Critically Endangered?
Pristimantis polemistes 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. Pristimantis polemistes faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely limited range in the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. The species' restriction to high-elevation cloud forests makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat upslope with nowhere left to retreat. Mining activities and cattle ranching have further fragmented the remaining forest patches, isolating small populations and reducing genetic diversity.
Where does Pristimantis polemistes live?
Pristimantis polemistes occurs in Colombia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Pristimantis polemistes?
The main threats to Pristimantis polemistes are 2.1, 2.3, 3.2, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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