Prostherapis dunni (Rivero 1961) *

Holotype: FMNH 35987.

Type locality: “above Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.”

Distribution: Region 2. Only found in the Caracas Region.

Remarks: Little is known about this frog. Grant et al. (2006) did not include this species in their molecular analysis, and its morphological characteristics prevent clear assignment to an established genus. Until molecular data become available, it should remain in the genus to which it was originally assigned, which is not currently used for any other dendrobatid species. Its unknown phylogenetic relationships (La Marca 2004; Grant et al. 2006) require more data to determine its proper place among dendrobatids. It has likely suffered a dramatic decline in populations due to habitat destruction in the Caracas area (La Marca 2004). Recent surveys by FRR and collaborators in June, July, and December 2015 failed to detect any individuals. It is currently considered Critically Endangered in the Venezuelan Red Book (Rojas-Runjaic and Señaris 2015a) but could be already extinct.

Selected references: Rivero (1961, 1964a, 1988); Tello (1968); Myers et al. (1991); La Marca (2004); Grant et al. (2006); Barrio-Amorós (2013); Rojas-Runjaic and Señaris (2015a).