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Ameerega bassleri Melin 1941

Call
Distribution: Central and Northern San Martin, Peru, normally between elevations of 500-1200 meters. Restricted to mountain ranges throughout the Cordillera Oriental near Tarapoto and central Huallaga river valley. View type locality in Google Maps.
Ecology: This is a montane species that prefers to live alongside small streams and creeks. At lower elevations, these frogs are completely restricted to cool, humid pockets that surround small streams, whereas in the highlands they can be found just about anywhere. Tadpoles are typically deposited in small ditches or backwaters near streams, but rarely in flowing water.
Phylogenetic status: Sister to A. pongoensis, forming a Huallaga river valley genetic group. It appears as this group took two distinct evolutionary pathways, with bassleri occupying the highlands and pongoensis in the lowlands.
Conservation status: The population status of this species in the wild varies between morphs. Some, such as the nominal morph, can be found in great numbers over 600 meters elevation. Conversely, the chrome green morph is highly endangered and has very little habitat remaining. In all cases, A. bassleri has a restricted range due to its dependence on cool conditions. Fortunately, smuggling has not been a significant problem in this species. Certain morphs (i.e. chrome green) could not withstand even light collection and would be in grave risk of extirpation of smuggling was to start.

Morph: Nominal
The nominal morph inhabits much of the Cordillera Oriental and part of the Cordillera Azul in the vicinity of Tarapoto.

MORPH: Yellow/black
This morph can be found in a mountain range southwest of Tarapoto. Females of this morph are thought to have fewer dorsal spots than males. This has yet to be confirmed, but if true it could be another example of sexual selection in dendrobatids.

Morph: Chrome green
This morph was found on a 2005 expedition to a locality at about 1100m. The mission nearly ended in bitter defeat after a torturous passage through an overgrown coffee field full with thorns, vines, logs, and strategically placed spear-like sticks that nearly killed a dendrobater. However, after another 5 hours in the rain, and with the help of an extraordinary guide named Junior, we managed to stumble across a few individuals, who proved just as hard to catch as they were to locate. This is one of the most endangered dendrobatids in the area, with nearly all suitable habitat having been converted to cattle pastures.

MORPH: 'Southern'
This stunning variant of A. bassleri was recently found (December 2005) well south of other known morphs. This population is highly variable, with some individuals showing little to no orange dorsally.


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