A new locality for the Critically Endangered Atelopus peruensis (Anura: Bufonidae) in an inter-Andean valley from Áncash, Peru
Vilca-Alzamora, C., Wong, A., Barrera-Moscoso, D., Escudero-Guerrero, J., & Aguilar-Puntriano, C. · SALAMANDRA · May 2026
Following more than a decade without confirmed records in the region, we documented a new population of the Critically Endangered harlequin toad Atelopus peruensis in an inter-Andean valley of Áncash, Peru. The first individual was located in 2024 thanks to information provided by local residents from the Escudero Guerrero family, highlighting the important role that local communities can play in amphibian conservation. A second individual was observed in 2026 near the same site. These records extend the species' known distribution by approximately 220 km from its type locality. The discovery is particularly encouraging because the toads were found in a landscape dominated by small-scale agriculture rather than in a pristine habitat. Although threats such as chytridiomycosis and habitat degradation remain a concern, this population offers renewed hope for the persistence of one of Peru's most threatened amphibians. We highlight the urgency for further research on population status and conservation action.