CR

Bahia Lime Treefrog

Sphaenorhynchus bromelicola

Declining

Overview

Sphaenorhynchus bromelicola, the Bahia lime treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to eastern Brazil and only known from its type locality near Maracás, Bahia. It is similar to Sphaenorhynchus orophilus.

It lives in terrestrial bromeliads on the forest edge and in open areas. The tadpoles develop in permanent pools. It is abundant at the type locality.

Potential threats to this species include habitat loss caused by agriculture, wood plantations, logging, collection of bromeliads and human settlement, though data is insufficient to grant it conservation status.

Sphaenorhynchus bromelicola faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most endangered biomes. The species' specialized dependence on bromeliad plants for breeding makes it particularly vulnerable to forest degradation, as these epiphytic plants require intact canopy structure to survive. Urban expansion and agricultural conversion continue to reduce the remaining forest patches where this frog can persist.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, where it breeds exclusively in water-filled bromeliad plants found in the forest canopy and understory. It requires intact forest environments with healthy epiphyte communities to support its specialized reproductive ecology.

Forest· majorShrubland· major

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionSpecies managementSpecies recovery

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 Brazil

Striped SmoothhoundCR

Striped Smoothhound

Mustelus fasciatus

Declining
VU

Mussismilia hispida

Declining
VU

Myrcia carioca

Declining
Brasilia TapaculoEN

Brasilia Tapaculo

Scytalopus novacapitalis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Bahia Lime Treefrog classified as Critically Endangered?
Bahia Lime 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. Sphaenorhynchus bromelicola faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most endangered biomes. The species' specialized dependence on bromeliad plants for breeding makes it particularly vulnerable to forest degradation, as these epiphytic plants require intact canopy structure to survive. Urban expansion and agricultural conversion continue to reduce the remaining forest patches where this frog can persist.
Where does Bahia Lime Treefrog live?
Bahia Lime Treefrog occurs in Brazil. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Bahia Lime Treefrog?
The main threats to Bahia Lime Treefrog are 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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