Teleferico rubber frog (Pristimantis telefericus) Case Study
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Continent: South America
Country: Venezuela
Grant Amount: $5,000
Awarded Date: October 27, 2017
Enrique La Marca
Laboratory of Biogeography, University of Los Andes at Mérida. Venezuela
Escuela de Geografía, Avenida principal via Chorros de Milla
Merida
Merida
5101
Venezuela
Tel: +58-274.2401647
Mob: +58-412.5107091
Conservation status and natural history of the endemic and endangered Teleferico rubber frog, an enigmatic high altitude Venezuelan Andean frog
The main objective of the project is to evaluate and reassess the conservation status of the Teleferico rubber frog (Pristimantis telefericus), gather biogeographic and natural history data, and search for new areas of occurrence based on scientific explorations. Specific objectives for the target species: 1. To carry out a detailed survey of its distribution and gather data on its natural history (largely unknown). Surveys will be aimed to visit historic localities, and to explore new areas to find new populations. Hopefully, we will find new populations that will expand the known species range and reassess its conservation status. 2. To identifying threats that the species is facing and to take actions to mitigate them. A parallel investigation will be conducted to also determine whether a raise of temperatures have taken place in the general area within the last 30 years and how it will be related to the pathogenic chythrid fungus (Bd). 3. The ecological and biogeographic data will help to address direct actions and recovery management plans for the species, as well as to write a conservation action plan. If needed, new areas could be identified and proposed to the pertaining institutions to be protected. As has been the case in previous studies, we foresee the discovery of new frog species.
Grant documents
- A short essay indicating known facts about the biogeography of the Teleferico rubber frog, and a proposal to a new IUCN Red List Category for this frog.
- Report and Action Plan for the Teleferico rubber frog (Pristimantis telefericus).
- A paper by the main researcher of this project, that reports on several new species of high Andean (paramo) Venezuelan Pristimantis.
- Paper describing two new species of Venezuelan high Andean (paramo) Pristimantis, one of them being Pristimantis telefericus.
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