ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROFILE

PROTECTION STATUS: Threatened

YEAR PLACED ON LIST: 2002

CRITICAL HABITAT: None

RECOVERY PLAN: 2007

RANGE: Desert and mountain streams and wetlands in central and southeast Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and northern Mexico

THREATS: Destruction of vegetative habitat by livestock; conversion of natural springs, pools, and wetlands to stock tanks; introduction of exotic species to cattle stock tanks; nonnative predators; water pollution; disease; drought; floods; groundwater pumping; isolated populations; and small numbers of individuals

POPULATION TREND: The Chiricahua has declined more than any other leopard frog in Arizona. Once found in more than 400 aquatic sites in the Southwest, the frog is now found at fewer than 80. Since being placed on the threatened species list, the frog has continued to decline, primarily due to mismanagement-caused population crashes at cattle stock tanks, the chytridiomycosis fungus and the likely exacerbation of both by global warming.

Photo © Erik Enderson