The llanos rocket frog (''Allobates ranoides'') is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...

in the family

Aromobatidae The Aromobatidae are a family of frogs native to Central and South America. They are sometimes referred to as cryptic forest frogs or cryptic poison frogs. They are the sister taxon of the Dendrobatidae, the poison dart frogs, but are not as tox ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

Habitat

This diurnal, terrestrial frog lives in forests. It has been observed between 100 and 400 meters above sea level. No official surveys have reported this frog in any protected areas. However, scientists suspect that it maylive in Reserva Forestal Protectora Nacional Cerro Vanguardia, Reserva Forestal Protectora Nacional Caño Vanguardia, or both.

Reproduction

The female frog lays her eggs on the leaf litter. After the eggs hatch, the adult frog carries the tadpoles to water.

Threats

The IUCN classifies this frog as critically endangered and estimates its current population in the wild as 0-49 mature individuals. Its principal threats are habitat loss associated with agriculture, livestock grazing, and human habitation. It experienced a precipitous population decline circa 2001, which is consistent with amphibian declines related to the fungal disease

chytridiomycosis Chytridiomycosis ( ) is an infectious disease in amphibians, caused by the chytrid fungi '' Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis'' and '' Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans''. Chytridiomycosis has been linked to dramatic population declines or extinc ...

. For a time, the

American bullfrog The American bullfrog (''Lithobates catesbeianus''), often simply known as the bullfrog in Canada and the United States, is a large true frog native to eastern North America. It typically inhabits large permanent water bodies such as swamps, po ...

was believed to be a threat to this frog, but this seems to have been an error. The American bullfrog was never present in ''Allobates ranoideas habitat.

References

ranoides Amphibians of Colombia Endemic fauna of Colombia Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Amphibians described in 1918 {{Aromobatidae-stub