Ex situ program progress
 
Species   Strabomantis bufoniformis
Region where the program is based   North America; Mesoamerica 
The country or countries where this program is based   Panama; USA 
The authority that recommended this species for an ex situ program   No 
Has a genetic analysis been performed on wild populations to define the target taxon, i.e., verify that single, viable Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU's) that are managed as separate populations, are not confounded by cryptic species or polymorphisms?     
If the answer to ESU is No, then there should be an entry for the needs in the Conservation Projects list. This is a link to the project.     
Name of the institution(s) managing the ex situ population   Atlanta Botanical Garden, El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center, Michael Ready 
The year that the program started   2005 
Is at least some portion of the captive population maintained in range country?   Yes 
Are sufficient resources available to manage the ex situ population?     
If additional financial resources are required then then there should be an entry for the needs in the Conservation Projects list. This is a link to the project.     
Are adequate numbers of skilled staff available with the appropriate ex situ amphibian experience?    Yes 
If additional staff training/expertise is required then then there should be an entry for the needs in the Conservation Projects list. This is a link to the project.     
Is sufficient space available for the required population size?    Yes 
If additional facilities are required then then there should be an entry for the needs in the Conservation Projects list. This is a link to the project.     
Has a Taxon Management Coordinator for the ex situ population been appointed?    No 
Name of the Taxon Management Coordinator    
Taxon Management Coordinator’s institution    
Taxon Management Coordinator’s email address    
Has a Taxon Management Group or Recovery Team been established?   No 
Names and institutions of Taxon Management Group members    
Has a Taxon Management Plan, Recovery Plan or Species Action Statement been written?   No 
Web link to Taxon Management Plan     
Have Husbandry Guidelines been written?   No 
Web link to Husbandry Management Guidelines    
Have any knowledge gaps in the species biology or in their interaction with potential threats been identified that could benefit from research using the ex-situ population?    Yes 
List of any knowledge gaps   Lack of knowledge regarding mode of fertilization.
Have founder needs been calculated using the AArk Amphibian Population Management Guidelines?     
Have sufficient potential founders been collected?    No 
If sufficient founds have not been collected, is there an ongoing search for additional founders?     
The number of potential founders that were collected (males, females and unsexed).    2 Males :  4 Females  (these are only USA held specimens, there are further animals held at EVACC in Panama) 
Is the ex situ population managed by nationals from the range country?    No 
What tools are used to maximize retention of gene diversity?     
Has the population produced viable offspring?    No 
Have the first generation captive-bred animals bred successfully?   No 
Is the ex situ population housed in permanent isolation from other populations occurring outside its range?    No 
Is work being supported to study and mitigate threats to the species in the wild, either by the institution or by a regional wildlife agency?     
Have captive-bred or captive-reared animals been released into the wild?    No 
If releases were undertaken, have disease screening protocols or veterinary health checks been conducted prior to releases to the wild?    No 
Is follow-up work being carried out to monitor progress of the released animals?    No 
Is the taxon again secure in the wild, even if it might still require some ongoing in situ management? i.e., has the need for a captive assurance population been obviated such that we can call this a successfully terminated captive rescue program?    No 
Comments   1.3 Founders at ABG, 1.1 sent to Mike Ready.  Large numbers of eggs produced from both groups have continually proven to be infertile.  Update 01 Oct 2010: more egg clutches @ ABG in recent months, all infertile.  Still maintaining 1.3 founders.  Mike Ready still holding 1.1.