CR

Tlaloc's Leopard Frog

Lithobates tlaloci

Unknown

Overview

Tlaloc's leopard frog, or rana de Tláloc in Spanish, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae endemic to the Valley of Mexico. It is critically endangered.

Lithobates tlaloci faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban expansion and agricultural conversion in the high-altitude regions around Mexico City. The species is particularly vulnerable to water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban contamination, which degrades the pristine aquatic environments essential for its reproduction. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes in its restricted montane habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits high-altitude freshwater environments in the mountains surrounding Mexico City, typically found in streams, ponds, and temporary pools between 2,200-3,000 meters elevation. It requires clean, well-oxygenated water with minimal human disturbance for successful breeding and larval development.

Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens· major

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionSite/area managementSpecies recovery

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Tlaloc's Leopard Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Tlaloc's Leopard 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 tlaloci faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban expansion and agricultural conversion in the high-altitude regions around Mexico City. The species is particularly vulnerable to water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban contamination, which degrades the pristine aquatic environments essential for its reproduction. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes in its restricted montane habitat.
Where does Tlaloc's Leopard Frog live?
Tlaloc's Leopard Frog occurs in Mexico. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Tlaloc's Leopard Frog?
The main threats to Tlaloc's Leopard Frog are 1.1, 2.1, 8.1, and 9.3.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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