Ameerega simulans from Madre de Dios, southern Peru. Photo by Thadaigh Baggallay.

Distribution

Southern Peru, found in habitats bordering on lowland rainforest at altitudes of 400-600 m, up to much more montane environments at 1500 m. At present it is thought to be restricted to the upper Rio Madre de Dios watershed. View type locality in Google Maps.

Natural history

Little is known about the natural history of this species. They have been observed to select calling sites typically 1 m or higher from the forest floor. Calls are high-pitched peeps.

Conservation status

Occurring within a National Park, this is a well-protected species that is of minimal conservation concern.

Notes

This small species is found in habitats bordering on lowland rainforest at altitudes of 400-600m, up to much more montane environments at 1500 m. At present it is thought to be restricted to the upper Rio Madre de Dios watershed. The call of A. simulans was characterized in its description as “a long train of uniform notes that are heard as short, high-pitched “peeps.”

This species is not closely related to any other member of Ameerega, though is well supported within the genus Ameerega.