¿Rhinella achalensisen declinación? Observaciones sobre el estado actual de las poblaciones del Sapo de Achala

LESCANO, JULIÁN N.

CUADERNOS DE HERPETOLOGíA

ASOCIACIÓN HERPETOLÓGICA ARGENTINA

Lugar: San Miguel de Tucumán; Año: 2017

0326-551X

SierrasPampeanas Centrales (SPC) mountains in central-western Argentina are inhabitedby 30 species of amphibians. Four of them represent strict endemisms associatedto high altitude grasslands and forests of the area. Rhinella achalensisis oneof these species and is currently listed as Threatened and Near Threatenedcategories of the national and international species Red Lists, respectively.According to different studies developed in SPC, populations of R.achalensishave remained stable at least to the beginning of this century. Inthis work I present field data about the occurrence and current populationstatus of R. achalensisin the SPC of Córdoba Province, compiled between 2007and 2015. Occurrence and abundance of the Achala toad was assessed based onsurveys done in 40 streams. Surveyed sites represented 67% of the historicallocalities known for the species from the literature. Populations of R. achalensiswerefound in 17.5% of surveyed streams, including three of eight surveyedhistorical localities. Besides, only 11 adults were found. The obtained resultssuggest that currently R. achalensishave small populations limited to smallstream stretches. In contrast to previous works, the obtained results suggestthat this toad has declined. Some hypotheses about the factors potentiallyinvolved are postulated.