Assessment Results
Craugastor milesi
Miles' Robber Frog
Order:
Anura
Family:
Craugastoridae
Synonym(s):
Eleutherodactylus milesi
Assessed for:
Honduras
on:
13 Mar 2019
by:
AArk/ASG Assessment Workshop
Authors:
Kolby, J., Marcec, R., Mora, J., Townsend, J.
IUCN Global Red List:
Critically Endangered (CR)
National Red List:
(not assessed)
Distribution:
Honduras
Evolutionary Distinctiveness score:
20.00211102
Recommended Conservation Actions:
Additional Comments:
| Question # | Short Name | Question Text | Response | Comments |
| 1 | Extinction risk | Current IUCN Red List category. [Data obtained from the IUCN Red List.] | Critically Endangered (CR) | |
| 2 | Possibly extinct | Is there a strong possibility that this species might be extinct in the wild? | No / unlikely | It was formerly relatively common, but underwent a precipitous decline. This species had not been seen alive since 1983 (Kolby and McCranie 2009), and repeated attempts to relocate this frog in appropriate habitat and weather conditions in Parque Nacional Cusuco between 1992 and 1996 were unsuccessful. It was considered to be Extinct until two individuals were recorded in 2008 and 2013 from Parque Nacional Cusuco (J. Kolby, 2019). Further research is required to determine the status of the surviving population at Parque Nacional Cusuco. |
| 3 | Phylogenetic significance | The taxon’s Evolutionary Distinctiveness (ED) score, as generated by the ZSL EDGE program. (These data are not editable by Assessors). | ED value 20 - 50 | |
| 4 | Protected habitat | Is a population of at least 50% of the individuals of the taxon included within a well-managed or reliably protected area or areas? | No / unlikely | This endemic species is found in moderate and intermediate elevations in the mountains of Omoa and Espiritu Santo on the Atlantic Slope in the northwest of the country. In 2008, an adult male of this species was also collected in Parque Nacional Cusuco in Cortes Department, at 1,841 m asl (Kolby and McCranie 2009). This species has been recorded within the Parque Nacional Cusuco and Parque Nacional Cerro Azul. It is not likely to occur more widely or between known locations due to a lack of suitable habitat and no records from other suitable cloud forest (J. Kolby & L. Herrera, pers. comm. March 2019). It is considered that it may be possibly extinct outside of Parque Nacional Cusuco, and so it is considered to occur in a single threat-defined location. |
| 5 | Habitat for reintroduction, conservation translocation or supplementation | Does enough well-managed and reliably protected habitat exist, either within or outside of currently protected areas that is suitable for conservation translocation, including population restoration or conservation introduction? | No / unlikely | |
| 6 | Previous reintroductions | Have reintroduction or translocation attempts been made in the past for this species? | No | |
| 7 | In situ conservation activities | Are any in situ conservation actions currently in place for this species? (Only required if a Red List Assessment has not been completed, or if new actions have been implemented since the last Red List Assessment. (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.). | ||
| 8 | In situ conservation activities | Are additional in situ conservation actions required to help conserve this species in the wild (e.g. habitat restoration and/or protection, control of invasive species, national legislation etc.)? | Yes / probably | Improved enforcement and management of the national parks and the elimination of incentives to convert forest (e.g., Decreto 37-2016) is urgently needed to halt anthropogenic land use change in the national parks and reserves of Honduras (Honduras Red List Assessment Workshop March 2019). |
| 9 | In situ research | Is additional in situ research required to better understand the species, e.g. distribution, population trends, natural history etc.? | Yes | Further research is required to determine the status of the surviving subpopulation at Cusuco National Park, and population studies specifically looking for this species throughout its range. |
| 10 | Threat mitigation | Are the threats facing the taxon, including any new and emerging threats not considered in the IUCN Red List, potentially reversible? | Threats unlikely to be reversed in time to prevent further decline / extinction | While the species is clearly threatened by habitat loss and degradation (largely resulting from the conversion of forest to subsistence agricultural use), this does not explain the sudden disappearance of populations from areas of pristine forest (namely Parque Nacional Cusuco). It seems possible that factors related to declines in other montane frog species, such as chytridiomycosis and climate change, might have contributed to the species' decline. Although this species undergoes direct development, its affinity towards streamside habitats creates a heightened risk for chytridiomycosis. In 2008, The single adult male C. milesi recorded in 2008 tested negative for chytrid infection by PCR analysis (Kolby and McCranie 2009). The other adult male found in 2013 was also negative for chytrid (J. Kolby, pers. comm. March 2019). It is possible that a small population of resistant individuals may persist in Parque Nacional Cusuco, but even so, the existence of this species remains in jeopardy. Shortly after making this discovery, a large treefall crashed onto the site where C. milesi was found, demolishing the understorey vegetation and altering the forest patch (J.E. Kolby pers. comm. November 2008). Almost no original forest occurs at Cerro Azul and there is none remaining at the Merendón locality (J. McCranie pers. comm. October 2009). It is not likely to tolerate habitat disturbance. The reform to the Ley de Protection de la Actividad Caficultora y Cacaotera (Decreto 37-2016; Articulos I, V, VI) has incentivised the cultivation of coffee in national lands, including the core zones of protected areas, which is increasing the alteration of primary forest (Honduras Red List Assessment Workshop March 2019). The cultivation of cardamom, coffee, and flowers is taking place within the boundaries of Parque Nacional Cusuco (Honduras Red List Assessment Workshop March 2019), and associated pollution from herbicide and pesticide use, and water pollution from coffee harvesting processes [aguas mieles] (L. Herrera pers. comm. March 2019). Another major threat is an increase in intentional human-induced fires for clearing of habitat for agriculture (J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). The building of roads in view of increasing hydroelectric development, increasing human settlements, and selective logging are causing habitat loss within the park (J. Kolby, F. Castañeda, J.M. Solís, L. Herrera pers. comm. March 2019). (only add for ground dwelling species): The trampling of leaf-litter, erosion of trails, and physical disturbance caused by high numbers of people through tourism activities and international research groups is an additional issue (J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). About 20% of its habitat in Parque Nacional Cerro Azul Meambar (NW part of the park around Los Pinos) is well-protected; however, stomping of the leaf-litter and erosion of trails from tourism activities could be a potential issue (Honduras Red List Assessment Workshop March 2019). In the southern portion of this park (Río Bonito and San José de los Planes) clear-cutting of the forest for small-holder crops is taking place (J. Townsend pers. comm. March 2019). Climate change is also considered to be a threat. Highland amphibians are adapted to inhabitat a narrow climatic envelope. Changes in climate are expected to reduce the available suitable habitat and required microclimates. Rapid shifts in the climate conditions required by these species would not allow sufficient opportunity for adaptation, especially in light of the limited possibility for elevational migration. Tropical Montane Cloud Forest (>1,000 m asl) has been demonstrated to be negatively affected by climatic changes to a greater extent than other habitats (Foden et al. 2013, Wicaksono et al. 2017, Lyra et al. 2017, Neate-Clegg et al. 2018). An increase in high rainfall events are being observed throughout its range, as well as an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events (hurricanes and droughts) in the Caribbean, destroying the riparian habitat required by stream-dwelling and stream-associated amphibian species (Honduras Amphibian Red List Workshop March 2019). Climate change is therefore considered to be both a current and future threat to all amphibian species in this habitat type. Furthermore, amphibians globally are at an increased risk of disease (e.g. chytridiomycosis) and a decline in fecundity due to such changes (Pounds et al. 2006, Blaustein et al. 2010). |
| 11 | Over-collection from the wild | Is the taxon suffering from collection within its natural range, either for food, for the pet trade or for any other reason, which threatens the species’ continued persistence in the wild? | No / unlikely | |
| 12 | Population recovery | Is the known population of this species in the wild large enough to recover naturally, without ex situ intervention if threats are mitigated? | No / unlikely | It was formerly relatively common, but underwent a precipitous decline. This species had not been seen since 1983 (McCranie and Wilson 2002), and repeated attempts to relocate this frog in appropriate habitat and weather conditions in Parque Nacional Cusuco between 1992 and 1996 were unsuccessful. It was considered to be extinct, until an individual was recorded in 2008 from Parque Nacional Cusuco and three specimens in 2013 (Kolby and McCranie 2009; J. Kolby, J.M. Solis and J.R. Galdámez pers. comm. March 2019). Surveys have been conducted every year since 2013, and have not recorded any individuals (J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). General amphibian surveys have been conducted since 2008 in Sierra de Omoa and Sierra de Espiritu Santo but did not record this species (L. Herrera pers. comm. March 2019). It is possible that subpopulations outside of Parque Nacional Cusuco are extinct, and the global population is likely to be less than 50 individuals (Honduras Red List Assessment Workshop March 2019). In Parque Nacional Cusuco the species apparently disappeared from two mountain tops at the same time, for unknown reasons (J. Kolby, pers. comm. March 2019). |
| 13 | Action plans | Does an Action Plan for the species already exist, or is one currently being developed? | ||
| 14 | Biological distinctiveness | Does the taxon exhibit a distinctive reproductive mode, behaviour, aspect of morphology or physiology, within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.)? | No aspect of biology known to be exceptional | |
| 15 | Cultural/socio-economic importance | Does the taxon have a special human cultural value (e.g. as a national or regional symbol, in a historic context, featuring in traditional stories) or economic value (e.g. food, traditional medicine, tourism) within its natural range or in a wider global context? | No | |
| 16 | Scientific importance | Is the species vital to current or planned research other than species-specific ecology/biology/conservation within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.) e.g. human medicine, climate change, environmental pollutants and conservation science? | No research dependent on this species | |
| 17 | Ex situ research | Does conserving this species (or closely related species) in situ depend upon research that can be most easily carried out ex situ? | No | |
| 18 | Ex situ conservation activities | Is any ex situ research or other ex situ conservation action currently in place for this species? (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.) | ||
| 19 | Husbandry analog required | If an ex situ rescue program is recommended for this species, would an analog species be required to develop husbandry protocols first? | Yes / probably | As ex-situ conservation management might be needed if more specimens are found, it is suggested that an analog species, such as Craguastor aurilegalus or C. laevissimus, is brought into captivity to develop husbandry and breeding protocols that can be used as a template for this species (J. Kolby, F. Castañeda and L. Carrillo pers. comm. March 2019). |
| 20 | Husbandry analog | Do the biological and ecological attributes of this species make it suitable for developing husbandry regimes for more threatened related species? i.e. could this species be used in captivity to help to develop husbandry and breeding protocols which could be used for a similar, but more endangered species at a later stage? | No | |
| 21 | Captive breeding | Has this species been successfully bred and/or maintained in captivity? | Not held in captivity to date | |
| 22 | Conservation education/ecotourism potential | Is the species especially diurnal, active or colourful, or is there an interesting or unusual aspect of its ecology that make it particularly suitable to be an educational ambassador for conservation of the species in the range country, either in zoos or aquariums or within ecotourism activities? | No | |
| 23 | Mandate | Is there an existing conservation mandate recommending the ex situ conservation of this taxon? | No | |
| 24 | Range State approval | If an ex situ initiative was proposed for this species, would it be supported (and approved) by the range State (either within the range State or out-of-country ex situ)? | Yes / probably | |
| 25 | Founder specimens | Are sufficient animals of the taxon available or potentially available (from wild or captive sources) to initiate an ex situ program, if one was recommended? | No / unlikely | |
| 26 | Taxonomic status | Has a complete taxonomic analysis of the species in the wild been carried out, to fully understand the functional unit you wish to conserve (i.e. have species limits been determined)? | Yes |
Citation:
Kolby, J., Marcec, R., Mora, J., Townsend, J. 2019. Conservation Needs Assessment for Craugastor milesi, Honduras
(AArk/ASG Assessment Workshop).
https://conservationneeds.org/assessment/4683
Accessed 02 Feb 2025
