Common names:
Holdridge's Toad [1].
Classification:
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Amphibia
Order - Anura
Family - Bufonidae
Species - Incilius holdridgei
Distribution:
Incilius holdridgei is only found at one location in Cost Rica; Volcán Barva (Figure 2) [1]. They are found at 2000-2200m above sea level and in an area of less than 100km2 [1].
Details:
Holdridge's toad can be found in montane rainforest [1]. During periods of heavy rain, it takes shelter under floor detritus and perches on mossy stream rocks during drier periods [1]. However, breeding often takes place in open pastures with man-made ditches where the eggs are laid [1]. Many of the recent sightings have been in open shrubland [1]. With recent efforts in the region to preserve habitats many historic pastures are now secondary forest [1]. This shift may well be a threat to this species but the severity of the impact is not yet known [1]. Individuals are dark brown with orange patches on the hind limbs, an orange patch also develops on the head during breeding [2].
The population is suspected to be only 50 mature adults, decreasing from ~2765 in 1975 [1]. This species was thought to be extinct until juveniles were found in 2008 [3, 4]. Whether the population is still decreasing is not known [1]. Much of this species' range in protected and the forest mainly intact [1]. Much more research is needed into their life history to best understand how to protect them [1].
Threats to the species:
Disease [1].
Climate change [1].
Succession/reforestation [1].
Similar species:
References:
[1] IUCN Red List. (2012). Holdridge's Toad, Incilius holdridgei. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/54664/3018206. [Accessed 5 May 2019].
[2] Abarca, J. G. (2012) ‘Conservation Status and Ecological Notes of the Previously Extinct Toad Incilius holdridgei (Taylor, 1952), Costa Rica’, FrogLog, 20(May), pp. 20–22.
[3] Abarca, J., Chaves, G. and Vargas, R. (2010) ‘Reconsidering Extinction: Rediscovery of Incilius holdridgei (Anura: Bufonidae) in Costa Rica After 25 Years’, Society, 41(November 2009), pp. 2009–2011.
[4] Garcıa-Rodriguez, A. et al. (2012) ‘Where are the survivors? Tracking relictual populations of endangered frogs in Costa Rica’, Diversity and Distributions, 18(2), pp. 204–212. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00862.x.
Photo: IUCN Red List. (2012). Holdridge's Toad, Incilius holdridgei. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/54664/3018206. [Accessed 5 May 2019].
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