From the IUCN Red List Species Account:

Range Description

Isthmohyla melacaena is known to occur in El Cusuco National Park, 15 31' N, 88 12' W, 1370–1990 m elevation, Department of Cortes, Honduras, and "mountains west of San Pedro, Honduras"’ (see McCranie and Castañeda, 2007).

Habitat and Ecology

The species is known from 1370 to 1990 m elevation in pine forest with an understory of broad leaf shrubs and grasses and in broadleaf cloud forest. Many bromeliads occur on the pine trees at the type locality, which lies on a hillside at least 150 m from the nearest streams or rivers (McCranie and Castañeda, 2006). The other known specimens were also probably associated with bromeliads. Tadpoles have also been collected in bromeliads (J.R. McCranie and F. Castañeda, pers. comm. 2008).

Males call at night from 1-2 m above the ground, a female was found at ca 3 m above the ground. The species appears to retreat into bromeliads (3-5 m high) during the daytime. Bromeliohyla bromeliacia was found in sympatry with I. melacaena (McCranie and Castañeda, 2006).

Population

This is considered to be a common species (J.R. McCranie, pers. comm. 2008).

Population Trend

unknown

Major Threats

Habitat destruction outside of El Cusuco National Park (J.R. McCranie, pers. comm. 2008).

Conservation Actions

The species occurs within the confines of El Cusuco National Park.

Red List Status

Near Threatened (NT)

Rationale

Listed as Near Threatened because, although it is relatively common within its small range, its Extent of Occurrence is less than 5,000 km2, and the extent and quality of its habitat have been impacted by habitat destruction, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Notes

Isthmohyla melacaena is diagnosed from other small Middle American hylids by a combination of morphological features (McCranie and Castañeda, 2006).

Citation

James McCranie 2008. Isthmohyla melacaena. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T136148A4250580. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T136148A4250580.en .Downloaded on 19 February 2019