Species

Aromobates meridensis

Common Name(s)

Sapito De Niebla Merideno

Region where program is based

South America

Country where program is based

Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

The authority that recommended this species for an ex situ program

Conservation Needs Assessment Workshop

Has a genetic analysis been performed on wild populations to define the target taxon, i.e., verify that single, viable Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU's) that are managed as separate populations, are not confounded by cryptic species or polymorphisms?

Name of the institution managing the ex situ population

Rescue of Endangered Venezuelan Amphibians Program

Year the program started

2016

Is at least some portion of the captive population maintained in range country?

Yes

Are sufficient resources available to manage the ex situ population?

No

Are adequate numbers of skilled staff available with the appropriate ex situ amphibian experience?

No

Is sufficient space available for the required population size?

No

Additional Support required

Finances

Has a Taxon Management Coordinator for the ex situ population been appointed?

Yes

Taxon Management Coordinator

Enrique La Marca of Rescue of Endangered Venezuelan Amphibians Program

Has a Taxon Management Group or Recovery Team been established?

Yes

Has a Taxon Management Plan, Recovery Plan or Species Action Statement been written?

Yes

Web link to Taxon Management Plan

http://www.amphibianark.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Species-Action-Plan-Aromobates-meridensis.pdf

Have Husbandry Guidelines been written?

Yes

Web link to Husbandry Management Guidelines

http://www.amphibianark.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Guia-para-el-manejo-de-Aromobates-meridensis.pdf

Have any knowledge gaps in the species biology or in their interaction with potential threats been identified that could benefit from research using the ex situ population?

Yes

List of knowledge gaps

The reproductive biology of the species is unserned. It is noted why tadpoles caught in their natural habitat and bred in captivity die at the end of the metamorphosis, so this aspect of breeding should be deepened.

Have founder needs been calculated using the AArk Amphibian Population Management Guidelines ?

Yes

Have sufficient potential founders been collected? ( AArk Amphibian Population Management Guidelines recommends a minimum of 20 pairs of found animals).

No

If sufficient founders have not been collected, is there an ongoing search for additional founders?

No

Is the ex situ population managed by nationals from the range country?

Yes

What tools are used to maximize retention of genetic diversity?

None

Has the population produced viable offspring?

No

Have the first generation captive-bred animals bred successfully?

Limited

Is the ex situ population housed in permanent isolation from other populations occurring outside its range?

Yes

Is work being supported to study and mitigate threats to the species in the wild, either by the institution or by a regional wildlife agency?

Yes

Have captive-bred or captive-reared animals been released into the wild?

Yes

If releases were undertaken, have disease screening protocols or veterinary health checks been conducted prior to releases to the wild?

Yes

Is follow-up work being carried out to monitor progress of the released animals?

No

Is the taxon again secure in the wild, even if it might still require some ongoing in situ management? i.e. has the need for a captive assurance population been obviated such that we can call this a successfully terminated captive rescue program?

Yes

Comments

2021: The species failed to reproduce in captivity. The original program coordinator left the country. The limited resources of the REVA Conservation Center prevented the program from continuing. The ex situ breeding of this species began in 2017 at the Biogeography Laboratory of the University of Los Andes, under the responsibility of Osmary Leal, with funding from Amphibian Ark. In 2018, after the project manager had to leave the country, this program was absorbed by the REVA conservation center, where ex situ breeding was continued for conservation purposes. We managed to breed a dozen tadpoles caught in their natural habitat. Many died in the development process just as they reached full metamorphosis. Some survivors who completed the development were released at the catch site, hoping that in wildlife they could grow satisfactorily. Given the difficulty of such a task, we did not monitor after the release of these larvae. 2017: Program now being managed by Enrique La Marca. Received an Amphibian Ark seed grant in 2016. An additional expedition is being prepared to seek more founders in the wild, scheduled by the end of November 2016. Eight tadpoles were collected with the original founders, and are being raised in the lab.