{{Short description|Species of amphibian}} {{Italic title}} {{Speciesbox | image = | status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group |date=2018 |title=''Atelopus planispina'' |volume=2018 |article-number=e.T54543A98642698 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T54543A98642698.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Atelopus planispina | authority = Jiménez de la Espada, 1875 | synonyms = ''Atelopus planispinus'' <small>— Rivero, 1963 (unjustified emendation)</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name=Frost/> }}
'''''Atelopus planispina''''' is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the eastern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" /><ref name=Frost/><ref name=AWE/> According to the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, it is restricted to the Napo Province,<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" /> although other sources suggest somewhat wider range.<ref name=Frost/><ref name=AWE/> It has not been seen since 1985 and might already be extinct.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" /> Common names '''Planispina's harlequin frog''',<ref name=AWE/> '''Napo stubfoot toad''', and '''flat-spined atelopus''' have been coined for it.<ref name=Frost/>
==Description== Adult males measure about {{convert|31|-|32|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} and adult females about {{convert|32|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length.<ref name=AWE/> The snout has rounded, protruding tip. The head and the body are dorsally flattened.<ref name="Peters 1973"/> The tympanum is absent.<ref name=AWE/> The body is covered by tiny spinules. The forelimbs are elongate and slender. The hind limbs are slender. The toes are webbed.<ref name="Peters 1973"/> The upper parts are pale green to orange with large black spots. The flanks are light green and the ventral parts are pale orange.<ref name=AWE/>
==Habitat and conservation== ''Atelopus planispina'' inhabit humid montane forests at elevations of {{convert|1000|–|2000|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. Breeding probably takes place in streams.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" />
This species was last recorded in 1985<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" /> or in 1988,<ref name=AWE/> despite later searches. If the species still persists, the remaining population is likely to be very small. The past population decline was probably caused by chytridiomycosis. Current major threat are habitat loss caused by agriculture, logging, mining, and infrastructure development, as well as agricultural pollution. Its range overlaps with a number of protected areas.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" />
==References== {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name=AWE>{{cite web |url=https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/amphibiaweb/FichaEspecie/Atelopus%20planispina |title=''Atelopus planispina'' |author=Coloma, L. A. |display-authors=etal |year=2018 |editor1=Ron, S. R. |editor2=Merino-Viteri, A. |editor3=Ortiz, D. A. |work=Anfibios del Ecuador. Version 2019.0 |publisher=Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ) |access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref>
<ref name=Frost>{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Anura/Bufonidae/Atelopus/Atelopus-planispina |title=''Atelopus planispina'' Jiménez de la Espada, 1875 |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2019 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Peters 1973">{{cite journal |last1=Peters |first1=James Arthur |title=The frog genus ''Atelopus'' in Ecuador (Anura: Bufonidae) |journal=Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology |date=1973 |issue=145 |pages=1–49 |doi=10.5479/si.00810282.145}}</ref> }}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2237288}}
planispina Category:Amphibians of the Andes Category:Endemic amphibians of Ecuador Category:Amphibians described in 1875 Category:Taxa named by Marcos Jiménez de la Espada Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot