Ongoing harlequin toad declines suggest the amphibian extinction crisis is still an emergency
Authors: Lötters Stefan , Plewnia Amadeus , Catenazzi Alessandro , Neam Kelsey , Acosta-Galvis Andrés R. , Alarcon Vela Yesenia , Allen Joshua P. , Alfaro Segundo Juan O. , de Lourdes Almendáriz Cabezas Ana , Alvarado Barboza Gilbert , Alves-Silva Kleiton R. , Anganoy-Criollo Marvin , Arbeláez Ortiz Ernesto , Arpi Lojano Jackeline D. , Arteaga Alejandro , Ballestas Onil , Barrera Moscoso Diego , Barros-Castañeda José D. , Batista Abel , Bernal Manuel H. , Betancourt Esteban , da Cunha Bitar Youszef Oliveira , Böning Philipp , Bravo-Valencia Laura , Cáceres Andrade José F. , Cadenas Diego , Chaparro Auza Juan Carlos , Chaves-Portilla Giovanni A. , Chávez Germán , Coloma Luis A. , Cortez-Fernandez Claudia F. , Courtois Elodie A. , Culebras Jaime , De la Riva Ignacio , Diaz Vladimir , Elizondo Lara Luis C. , Ernst Raffael , Flechas Sandra V. , Foch Thibaut , Fouquet Antoine , García Méndez Carmen Z. , García-Pérez Juan Elias , Gómez-Hoyos Diego A. , Gomides Samuel C. , Guerrel Jorge , Gratwicke Brian , Guayasamin Juan M. , Griffith Edgardo , Herrera-Alva Valia , Ibáñez Roberto , Idrovo Carlos Iván , Jiménez Monge Andrés , Jorge Rafael F. , Jung Alisha , Klocke Blake , Lampo Margarita , Lehr Edgar , Lewis Carrie H. R. , Lindquist Erik D. , López-Perilla Yeny R. , Mazepa Glib , Medina-Rangel Guido F. , Merino Viteri Andrés , Mulder Kevin , Pacheco-Suarez Mauricio , Pereira-Muñoz Andry , Pérez-González José Luis , Pinto Erazo Maria Alejandra , Pisso Florez Adolfo Gustavo , Ponce Marcos , Poole Vicky , Quezada Riera Amanda B. , Quiroz Aarón J. , Quiroz-Espinoza Michelle , Ramírez Guerra Alejandro , Ramírez Juan P. , Reichle Steffen , Reizine Hugo , Rivera-Correa Mauricio , Roca-Rey Ross Bernardo , Rocha-Usuga Andrés , Rodrigues Miguel Trefaut , Rojas Montaño Sintana , Rößler Daniela C. , Rueda Solano Luis Alberto , Señaris Celsa , Shepack Alexander , Siavichay Pesántez Fausto R. , Sorokin Anton , Terán-Valdez Andrea , Torres-Ccasani Grecia , Tovar-Siso Pablo C. , Valencia Lina M. , Velásquez-Trujillo David A. , Veith Michael , Venegas Pablo J. , Villalba-Fuentes Jeferson , von May Rudolf , Webster Bernal Juan F. , La Marca Enrique 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBiodiversity loss is extreme in amphibians. Despite ongoing conservation action, it is difficult to determine where we stand in overcoming their extinction crisis. Among the most threatened amphibians are the 131 Neotropical harlequin toads. Many of them declined since the 1980s with several considered possibly extinct. Recently, more than 30 species have been rediscovered, raising hope for a reversing trend in the amphibian extinction crisis. We use past and present data available for harlequin toads (Atelopus), to examine whether the amphibian extinction crisis is still in an emergency state. Since 2004 no species has improved its population status, suggesting that recovery efforts have not been successful. Threats include habitat change, pathogen spread and climate change. More mitigation strategies need implementation, especially habitat protection and disease management, combined with captive conservation breeding. With harlequin toads serving as a model, it is clear that the amphibian extinction crisis is still underway.