Ameerega ignipedis from type locality, Serrania de Contamana, Peru. Photo by Jason Brown. |
Distribution
Known only from two localities (less than 3 km apart) in the Serrania de Contamana, Loreto, Peru, at approx. 240 m elevation. These localities lie at the base of a small, isolated mountain range near the town of Contamana. View type locality in Google Maps.
Natural history
This species appears to be associated with streams. Several adults were found alongside a small stream, including a tadpole-carrying male. Tadpole deposition most likely occurs in streams and small forest pools. Ameerega ignipedis is sympatric with A. trivittata, A. hahneli, and A. yoshina, which also use similar breeding resources.
Conservation status
Brown and Twomey (2009) suggest this species be listed as Data Deficient following IUCN criteria. It likely occurs more widely throughout the Sierra del Divisor, and this habitat is almost entirely untouched by humans.
Notes
Silverstone (1976) referred a single specimen collected in 1947 from near Contamana to A. petersi. Although the two species are similar in appearance, genetic analyses show that A. ignipedis is sister to a larger clade containing A. bassleri, A. pepperi, and A. yoshina.
The name ignipedis is Latin for ‘fiery-footed’, deriving from the type locality of this species, which is located alongside an hot geothermal stream.
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