CR

Santiago Rocket Frog

Hyloxalus shuar

Declining

Overview

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

Hyloxalus shuar faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and habitat conversion in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where mining activities and agricultural expansion have fragmented its limited montane forest range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while pollution from mining operations may be contaminating the pristine stream systems essential for its reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This poison frog inhabits pristine montane cloud forests and adjacent stream systems in the eastern Andean slopes of Ecuador, typically at elevations between 1,200-1,800 meters. The species requires undisturbed forest canopy and clean, fast-flowing streams for breeding and larval development.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in DENDROBATIDAE

Blessed Poison FrogVU

Blessed Poison Frog

Ranitomeya benedicta

Declining
Golfodulcean Poison FrogVU

Golfodulcean Poison Frog

Phyllobates vittatus

Declining
EN

Silverstoneia dalyi

Declining
EN

Ramos' Rocket Frog

Hyloxalus ramosi

Declining

Threatened in Ecuador

Argentinean Horned FrogVU

Argentinean Horned Frog

Ceratophrys ornata

Declining
EN

Chelonoidis chathamensis

Increasing
EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
VU

Chelonoidis vandenburghi

Increasing

Frequently asked questions

Why is Santiago Rocket Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Santiago Rocket 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. Hyloxalus shuar faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and habitat conversion in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where mining activities and agricultural expansion have fragmented its limited montane forest range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while pollution from mining operations may be contaminating the pristine stream systems essential for its reproduction.
Where does Santiago Rocket Frog live?
Santiago Rocket Frog occurs in Ecuador, and Peru. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Santiago Rocket Frog?
The main threats to Santiago Rocket Frog are 2.1, 5.3, 8.1, and 8.2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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