Holoaden bradei
Holoaden bradei, or the Itatiaia highland frog, is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to the Itatiaia Mountains of south-eastern Brazil. It is restricted to an area of 10 km2 at an elevation of 2,400 to 2,600, the type locality being at 22°21′S, 44°44′W at a location known as Alto Itatiaia. H. bradei is found among stones, mulch, and terrestrial bromeliads, in which it breeds through direct development. H. bradei may already be extinct in the wild because it has not been recorded in the wild for several decades. Description It is a small frog that has an olive-brown skin color with irregular dark patches around its body. The belly of the frog is a cream color, and the tips of the frog's hands are a bright yellow. It has a large, wide head with an oval body and a rounded snout. It has short limbs, and has large eyes that face forward. The Highland frog's eyes have diamond-shaped pupils. The female frogs are slightly larger than the male frogs. The length of their snouts have been recorded up to 3.7 centimeters. Distribution and habitat Itatiaia highland frogs are a terrestrial species. They are often found under mulch, leaves, and stones in open grasslands or sparse forests. They have also been known to live in burrows and other shaded places. They are also known to reside in shrublands, particularly in the moist areas. As the name suggests, they are found in the highlands of the Itatiaia Mountains in Brazil, specifically in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Sâo Paulo, and Minas Gerais. They are found at elevations of around 2,100 to 2,600 meters above sea level. They were frequently found there up until the 1970s, but have not been seen since 1976. Because of this, they are believed to most likely be extinct. Distress calls Calls of any kind, specifically advertisement calls, can be extremely influential to studies related to classification of species. A recording retrieved from 1964 by Werner C. Bokerman displays the last form of evidence of this species. The recording contains 11 distress calls of the species. These calls have been classified as distress calls due to the number of harmonic bands within the interval on the call and because the given frog completed the call while in the hands of the handler. Among the eleven calls, there was very little consistency, excluding the significant decrease in modulation toward the end of the call. Scientists believe that the descent in modulation results from the closing of the frog's mouth at the conclusion of the call. Six of the calls indicated a rapid increase in modulation, with a rapid decrease in modulation immediately after. Little to no modulation followed by a rapid decline in modulation was seen in three of the calls. In two of the calls, a rapid increase in modulation occurred at the beginning of the call, which ended with no modulation. Threats Highland frogs are classified as critically endangered by