Puebla Frog
CR

Puebla Frog

Lithobates pueblae

Unknown

Photo: (c) 106757949696626451802, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by 106757949696626451802

Overview

The Puebla frog or Pueblan pool frog is a species of frog in the family Ranidae endemic to Necaxa River near Huauchinango, Puebla state, Mexico, where it is known as rana poblana. It was thought to probably be extinct until 2010 when Dr. Georg Hantke from the National Museum of Scotland re-discovered it.

Lithobates pueblae faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited range in Mexico. The species is particularly vulnerable due to its restricted distribution and dependence on specific aquatic breeding habitats that are increasingly fragmented and polluted.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane pine-oak forests and associated freshwater streams, ponds, and temporary pools at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters in the Mexican highlands. It requires clean, well-oxygenated water bodies for breeding within forested landscapes.

Forest· majorForest - Temperate· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in RANIDAE

Taipa FrogVU

Taipa Frog

Rana longicrus

Declining
VU

Guizhou Odorous Frog

Odorrana kweichowensis

Declining
EN

Pelophylax cerigensis

Unknown
VU

Amolops splendissimus

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Puebla Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Puebla 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. Lithobates pueblae faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited range in Mexico. The species is particularly vulnerable due to its restricted distribution and dependence on specific aquatic breeding habitats that are increasingly fragmented and polluted.
Where does Puebla Frog live?
Puebla 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 Puebla Frog?
The main threats to Puebla Frog are 1.1, 3.3, 5.3, and 6.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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