# Craugastor chrysozetetes

Craugastor chrysozetetes is a possibly extinct species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Honduras where it is only known from near its type locality on the Cerro Búfalo, Cordillera de Nombre de Dios, at the edge of the Pico Bonito National Park. Common name McCranie's robber frog has been coined for this species. However, James McCranie [fr] himself has argued that this name "should be rejected in favor of a name associated with the type locality instead of a name tied to one of the three authors who named this species".

## Description

Adult males measure 34–41 mm (1.3–1.6 in) and adult females 37–46 mm (1.5–1.8 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is nearly rounded in dorsal view and rounded to nearly vertical in lateral view. Tympanum is absent, but there is a well-developed supra-tympanic fold. The fingers bear later keels and broadly expanded discs but have no webbing. The toes bear broadly expanded discs and have webbing, with lateral fleshy fringes in the non-webbed parts. Skin is variously wrinkled and bears many tubercles. The dorsal surfaces are dark olive brown and blotched with pale olive brown (male holotype) or mottled olive-green and dark olive-green (an adult female). The ventral surfaces of the body and throat are pale purple (male) to purplish brown with dull white flecking on the chin and pale blue flecking on the chest (female).
Craugastor chrysozetetes appears to have been able to form hybrids with Craugastor fecundus.

## Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitat was premontane wet forest at elevations of 880–1,130 m (2,890–3,710 ft) above sea level. It occurred along the stream Quebrada de Oro. It was always a rare species, and after several visits to the only known site failed to locate the species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed it as extinct in 2004. The cause of extinction is thought have been habitat loss and change (deforestation resulting from agricultural encroachment, human settlement of the region, logging, fires, and landslides). Chytridiomycosis might also have played a role. However, this was changed to Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) in 2019 following the possibility that it may survive within Pico Bonito National Park.
Craugastor chryzetetes primarily resides in specific regions within Central America, where it thrives in certain environmental conditions. The species is known to inhabit tropical and subtropical forests, particularly in Honduras and Costa Rica 1. Its habitat preferences include areas of high humidity, moderate temperatures, and access to leaf litter or rocky crevices for shelter.

## Reproduction

Unlike many amphibians, Craugastor chryzetetes exhibits unique reproductive strategies that do not follow the traditional metamorphic cycle. Instead, it undergoes direct development, bypassing the tadpole stage. This means that offspring hatch from eggs as fully formed miniature frogs, eliminating the need for standing water as a breeding ground. This adaptation allows the species to thrive in a range of terrestrial habitats. Parental care behaviors, such as guarding eggs, have been observed in related species within the Craugastor genus, though specific studies on Craugastor chryzetetes are limited.

## Conservation Status

The latest IUCN Red List assessment lists Craugastor chryzetetes as an endangered species due to habitat loss, climate change, and the spread of chytridiomycosis. Habitat destruction caused by deforestation for agriculture and urban expansion poses a significant threat to the species. Additionally, the fungal disease chytridiomycosis, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been linked to severe declines in amphibian populations worldwide, including those in Central America. Conservation efforts include habitat protection, disease monitoring, and potential captive breeding programs to preserve the species.