Conservation report Starry night harlequin toad
This month, Jefferson Villalba shines a spotlight on a rediscovered amphibian.
Was the species actually lost?
It hadn’t been documented in almost 30 years, partly because biologists didn’t have access to its habitat in Colombia. The species has lived in harmony with the Arhuaco indigenous people for centuries: their Sogrome community considers the mountain home of what they refer to as ‘gouna’ to be sacred, and the toads as guardians of water and symbols of fertility. The amphibian and its habitat have therefore benefitted from this protection.
Where is it found?
2,000–3,500m above sea level, in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range. It is an endemic species – so far, the only known recorded sightings are in the state of Cesar.
How was it documented?
Colombian conservation group Fundación Atelopus established a relationship of trust and friendship with the Sogrome community and its spiritual leaders, known as mamos. After four years of dialogue, a group of biologists were allowed to visit the site in 2016 to see the toad without
taking photos, a test of trust by the
Arhuaco called ‘resisting temptation’. After further discussions and visits, the research team was allowed to take pictures, and the mamos gave permission to share these with the world in late 2019.
What threatens harlequin toads?
There are 96 known species, which are threatened by factors such as habitat loss, invasive species, climate change and chytridiomycosis, a highly contagious and often fatal disease.
What happens next?
Fundación Atelopus, together with its partners Global Wildlife Conservation and Amas la Sierra – a Sogrome community-based project – will start monitoring the starry night harlequin toad population in Cesar and continue to work with both scientific and spiritual perspectives. Megan Shersby
JEFFERSON VILLALBA is an amphibian and reptile conservationist and president of Fundación Atelopus.
FIND OUT MORE
Chytridiomycosis – key facts: discoverwildlife.com/chytrid-fungus