CR

Craugastor ranoides

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Craugastor ranoides faces severe population declines primarily due to the devastating chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which has caused widespread amphibian mortality throughout Central America. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in Costa Rica's montane regions has further fragmented remaining populations. Climate change is altering the species' cloud forest habitat, with shifting precipitation patterns and temperature increases affecting the moisture-dependent breeding sites essential for this direct-developing frog.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane cloud forests and humid premontane forests in Costa Rica, typically found in leaf litter and low vegetation at elevations between 1,200-2,000 meters. It requires consistently moist microhabitats with stable temperature and humidity conditions characteristic of these high-elevation tropical forests.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical dry· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in CRAUGASTORIDAE

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Walker's Sierra Frog

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Sagui Dirt Frog

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Xucaneb Robber Frog

Craugastor xucanebi

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Palicourea brenesii

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Pentagonia osaensis

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Passiflora chimuensis

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Baird's Tapir

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Craugastor ranoides classified as Critically Endangered?
Craugastor ranoides 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. Craugastor ranoides faces severe population declines primarily due to the devastating chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which has caused widespread amphibian mortality throughout Central America. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in Costa Rica's montane regions has further fragmented remaining populations. Climate change is altering the species' cloud forest habitat, with shifting precipitation patterns and temperature increases affecting the moisture-dependent breeding sites essential for this direct-developing frog.
Where does Craugastor ranoides live?
Craugastor ranoides occurs in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, 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 Craugastor ranoides?
The main threats to Craugastor ranoides are 11.1, 2.1, 8.1, and 8.2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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