Atelopus pulcher
{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Atelopus pulcher 1.jpg
| image_caption = In Tarapoto, Peru
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Atelopus pulcher
| authority = Boulenger, 1882{{ITIS|id=661706|taxon=Atelopus pulcher|accessdate=7 November 2012}}
| synonyms =
}}
Atelopus pulcher, the Río Huallaga Stubfoot Toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to eastern Peru where it is found in the Huallaga River drainage; its range might extend to Ecuador.{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Anura/Bufonidae/Atelopus/Atelopus-pulcher |title=Atelopus pulcher Boulenger, 1882 |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2014 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |accessdate=18 June 2014}} Its natural habitats are lowland and premontane tropical forests. It is a diurnal and terrestrial species that breeds in streams.
Description
Atelopus pulcher measures about {{convert|35|mm|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length. It has a slender body with quite smooth skin. It is blackish brown above, with various light green markings.{{Cite book| last = Boulenger| first = George Albert | authorlink = George Albert Boulenger|year = 1882| title = Catalogue of the Batrachia Salientia s. Ecaudata in the collection of the British Museum| edition = 2nd| publisher = British Museum (Natural History)| location = London| page = 154}}
Breeding might occur throughout the year. The tadpoles grow to about {{convert|6|mm|abbr=on}} in body length and {{convert|14|mm|abbr=on}} in total length. The tadpole is dorso-ventrally flattened and has a large ventral suction disc behind its mouth. It is similar to other Atelopus tadpoles except that its upper beak is shorter than the lower one.{{cite journal|last=Gascon|first=Claude|year=1989|title=The tadpole of Atelopus pulcher Boulenger (Annura, Bufonidae) from Manaus, Amazonas|url=http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbzool/v6n2/v6n2a07.pdf|journal=Revista Brasileira de Zoologia|volume=6|issue=2|pages=235–239|doi=10.1590/s0101-81751989000200007|doi-access=free}}
Conservation
Atelopus pulcher is threatened by chytridiomycosis and habitat loss. It is relatively rare species that is declining in abundance and has disappeared from many known localities. It is sometimes collected for the pet trade, and this might contribute to local declines.{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2005.00026.x| title = Catastrophic population declines and extinctions in Neotropical harlequin frogs (Bufonidae: Atelopus)| journal = Biotropica| volume = 37| issue = 2| pages = 190–201| year = 2005| last1 = La Marca | first1 = E. | last2 = Lips | first2 = K. R. | last3 = Lotters | first3 = S. | last4 = Puschendorf | first4 = R. | last5 = Ibanez | first5 = R. | last6 = Rueda-Almonacid | first6 = J. V. | last7 = Schulte | first7 = R. | last8 = Marty | first8 = C. | last9 = Castro | first9 = F. | last10 = Manzanilla-Puppo | first10 = J. | last11 = Garcia-Perez | first11 = J. E. | last12 = Bolanos | first12 = F. | last13 = Chaves | first13 = G. | last14 = Pounds | first14 = J. A. | last15 = Toral | first15 = E. | last16 = Young | first16 = B. E. | s2cid = 56436484}}
Gallery
File:Atelopus pulcher 2.jpg|Atelopus pulcher, Tarapoto, Peru
File:Atelopus pulcher (1 - upper view).jpg|Illustration by Robert Mintern.