The subpopulation from Pastaza Province reported by Coloma (1995) belongs to an undescribed species (L. Coloma pers. comm.)

Listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) in view of the lack of records since 1984, despite efforts to search for it. Should the species still be extant it is likely that any surviving population occurs in low numbers, likely fewer than 250 mature individuals, and is experiencing continuing decline due to ongoing loss and degradation of its habitat

It is distributed in the eastern foothills of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes in Morona Santiago Province, southern Ecuador, between 1,700 and 1,980 m asl (Coloma 1995). The subpopulation from Pastaza Province reported by Coloma (1995) are not conspecific and were assigned to this species in error (L. Coloma pers. comm. 2021).

It has always been a rare species. It was last observed in 1984. It was not found during the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) expeditions of 1993, 1999 and 2003 to the Cordillera del Condór region (Schulenberg and Awbrey 1997), nor during more recent explorations of the Cordillera del Condór (e.g., Almendáriz et al. 2014, Valencia et al. 2017). It is possible that this species could be Extinct, as search effort has been made. Should the species still be extant it is likely that it survives in low numbers, probably fewer than 250 mature individuals, with each of the subpopulations containing no more than 50 mature individuals. Any surviving population is expected to be declining inferred from the ongoing decline in habitat quality and extent.

This species' range lies within pluvial premontane forest and very humid premontane forest and cloud forest (Duellman and Lynch 1988). Reproduction probably takes place by females laying eggs on the ground, with the males bringing larvae to streams for development.

Any surviving population is expected to be significantly threatened by ongoing habitat destruction and degradation due to agricultural development, logging, and extensive large–scale copper and gold mining projects and associated deforestation and contamination within the Cordillera del Cóndor (Chicaiza and Yánez 2013, Mazabanda et al. 2018, RAISG 2020).

There are no records of this species being utilized.

Conservation Actions In-Place
Known records are outside of the national system of protected areas (Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas-SNAP), but one locality falls within Bosque Protector Cordillera Kutuku-Shaimi.

Conservation Needed
Should a subpopulation be detected in the wild, its habitat must be protected and the option of a captive-breeding programme might need to be explored.

Research Needed
Further survey work is necessary to determine whether the species is still surviving.