From the IUCN Red List Species Account:

Range Description

This species is found in the cordilleras of Costa Rica and the highlands of central Panama, at elevations of 1,150-2,700 m asl (Savage 2002).

Habitat and Ecology

It inhabits relatively undisturbed, dense, primary humid montane forest. Breeding takes place by direct development.

Population

In Costa Rica, this species is uncommon (Puschendorf et al. 2006), but believed to be moderately abundant and stable (G. Chaves pers. comm. 2015). Lips (1998) reported a sharp decline at Las Tablas (Costa Rica), but populations have persisted at Monteverde (Costa Rica) (Pounds et al. 1997). Further information is needed on the status of the species' populations in Panama.

Population Trend

unknown

Major Threats

In Panama, the major threat is logging. In Costa Rica threats to the species are unknown (G. Chaves pers. comm. 2015). The cause of the decline at Las Tablas has not been determined, but chytridiomycosis may be involved, as it was detected in this species at this location (Lips et al. 2003). It persists at Monteverde where chytrid has also been recorded (Pounds et al. 1997). More recently, chytrid was not detected in frogs (n=4) collected along an altitudinal transect in Costa Rica (Puschendorf et al. 2006).

Conservation Actions

Conservation Actions 
It has been recorded from a number of protected areas in Costa Rica (including Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, and Parque Internacional La Amistad) and Panama (Parque Nacional Chagres and Parque Nacional Volcán Barú).
 
Research Needed
Studies are required to improve the understanding of the taxonomic relationship between this species and Pristimantis cruentus, so as to aid in the correct identification of populations (G. Chaves pers. comm. 2015).

Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)

Rationale

Listed as Least Concern as it occurs in an area of extensive, suitable habitat which appears to not be under widespread threat and it has a presumed large population.

Taxonomic Notes

This species was previously included in the genus Eleutherodactylus (Crawford and Smith 2005). Populations in Panama might belong to a different species.

Citation

IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2015. Craugastor melanostictus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T56757A54350480. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T56757A54350480.en .Downloaded on 12 December 2018