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Photos of new frogs discovered in Colombia Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com February 03, 2009
The amphibians were discovered during a recent Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) expedition in the Tacarcuna area of the Darien, near the border with Panama. Also sighted were 50 other species of amphibians, 20 species of reptiles, and almost 120 species of birds. The survey also documented the presence of large mammals including Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii), listed on the IUCN Red List as Endangered in Colombia; white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari); and four species of monkeys, including Geoffroy’s spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), Geoffroy’s tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi), white-throated capuchin (Cebus capucinus) and the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata).
"The potentially new species of amphibians include three glass frogs of the Nymphargus, Cochranella and Centrolene genus; three poison dart frogs of the Dendrobatidae family (Colostethus, Ranitomeya and Anomaloglossus genera), one harlequin frog of the Atelopus genus, two species of rain frogs of the Pristimantis genera and one salamander of the Bolitoglossa genus," said CI in a statement. "Colombia holds one of the most diverse amphibian communities in the world, with 754 species currently recorded." The scientists called the area a "Noah's Ark" of wildlife, alluding to both its biodiversity and its importance as a biological bridge between Central and South America. “Without a doubt this region is a true Noah’s Ark. The high number of new amphibian species found is a sign of hope, even with the serious threat of extinction that this animal group faces in many other regions of the country and the world,” said Jose Vicente Rodriguez-Mahecha, Scientific Director of CI-Colombia. CI-Colombia hopes to use the results to help justify greater protection of the region, including the establishment of a new protected area in the Tacarcuna hills. While much of the Colombian Darien is under some form of protection, it faces threats from logging, cattle ranching, agricultural development, unsustainable hunting, and mining. The RAP took place over three weeks and involved herpetologists from CI-Colombia and ornithologists from the Ecotrópico Foundation, with the support of the local Emberá community of Eyakera.
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