Advancing Amphibian ex situ Conservation in Brazil: Strategies and Developments of two Conservation Projects

The amphibian ex situ conservation breeding program for Brazilian amphibians is a pioneering initiative from Amphibian Ark (AArk), coordinated by Renata Ibelli Vaz and Cybele Sabino Lisboa. Its goal is to raise awareness about ex situ conservation strategies and strengthen the conservation of endangered amphibians in Brazil. 

Since its inception in June 2023, the program has engaged three institutions in the country, providing technical guidance and fostering collaboration to develop conservation projects for threatened species. Two institutions have already begun developing their projects, with BioParque do Rio focusing on the conservation of Physalaemus soaresi and the Museu Biológico do Instituto Butantan focusing on Melanophryniscus setiba. Both projects were awarded the 2024 Amphibian Ark Grant to support the initiation of their conservation efforts.

Melanophryniscus setiba and Physalaemus soaresi are both critically endangered species endemic to Brazil, with highly restricted distributions in the southeastern region of the country (Peloso et al 2012; Pontes et al 2010). The first is confined to a small area of the municipality of Guarapari in the State of Esprito Santo. P. soaresi is only found in the municipality of Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro state. Due to the limited knowledge available on their biology and ecology, the ex situ team and in situ experts for both species are working together to develop effective conservation strategies. 

The Museu Biológico’s strategy is to work directly with M. setiba, as no closely related analog species exist. The institution’s experience in maintaining amphibians in captivity makes it well-suited to develop husbandry protocols from scratch, ensuring optimal care for M. setiba in an ex situ setting. Conversely, given BioParque do Rio’s first hands-on experience in maintaining amphibians, a phased approach is being implemented. The project initially focuses on P. signifer, a closely related species, as an analog (Carvalho-e-Silva & Carvalho-e-Silva, 2020). Experts from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) already possess knowledge of P. signifer husbandry, making it an ideal surrogate species for refining husbandry techniques and enclosure conditions before transitioning to the conservation of P. soaresi itself. 

As part of the program, a two-day training session was held at BioParque do Rio in December 2024, focusing on essential amphibian husbandry techniques for conservation. Organized by Samuel Villanova Vieira and Marcela Rosa Tavares from BioParque do Rio, this training prepared the institution for its ex situ conservation project involving P. soaresi. The training sessions were conducted by Renata from AArk and Marcelo Bellini from the Museu Biológico do Instituto Butantan. Marcelo delivered lectures on substrate selection and enclosure preparation, while Renata provided instruction on amphibian husbandry fundamentals, including enclosure setup, water quality management, feeding, and disease prevention strategies. The sessions also incorporated practical activities and a walkthrough of the laboratory designated for P. soaresi.

In addition to the training at BioParque, Renata and Cybele conducted a technical visit to the Museu Biológico. The visit focused on evaluating the laboratory setup for the conservation of M. setiba, ensuring that facilities meet the necessary standards for the successful maintenance and breeding of this critically endangered species.

By the end of December, the in situ team, led by researchers from the Boitatá Institute, collected four M. setiba individuals (two males and two females) to initiate an ex situ population. Following the collection, a meeting was held between Amphibian Ark national coordinators, the Biological Museum, and the in situ team to align methodologies and identify data to be collected during captivity.

In January, the BioParque do Rio team, with support from partners at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, collected six males, three females, and two egg clutches of P. signifer. This marks an important step in the preparation for the conservation of P. soaresi.

The next step for both projects is to develop the protocols for the husbandry and breeding of M. setiba and P. signifer. In addition, a veterinary training workshop will take place at Sao Paulo Zoo in August 2025. This workshop will provide crucial training for veterinarians working with amphibians, improving their ability to diagnose and treat amphibian diseases, which remain a significant concern in conservation breeding programs. The workshop will be open to institutions actively involved in amphibian conservation and to those seeking to establish new programs. 

These recent developments mark significant progress in ex situ conservation efforts for M. setiba and P. soaresi. By implementing tailored conservation strategies, refining husbandry protocols, and fostering collaboration between ex situ teams and in situ experts, these institutions are taking significant steps toward ensuring the survival of their unique and endangered amphibians. As the projects advance, developing breeding protocols and monitoring both species will be crucial to ensuring their survival in captivity and potential future population supplementation efforts.

This article was written by:

Renata Ibelli Vaz | IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Regional Group Brazil & Amphibian Ark
Samuel Villanova Vieira | BioParque do Rio, Brazil
Marcela Rosa Tavares | BioParque do Rio, Brazil
Adriana Mezini | Museu Biológico - Instituto Butantan, Brazil
Marcelo Stéfano Bellini Lucas | Museu Biológico - Instituto Butantan, Brazil
Cybele Sabino Lisboa | IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Regional Group Brazil, Amphibian Ark, & Reserva Paulista - Zoológico de Sao Paulo, Brazil 

Carvalho-e-Silva A.M.P. T. and Carvalho-eSilva S.P. 2020. Conservation Needs Assessment for Physalaemus soaresi, Brazil (AArk/ASG Brazil Assessment Workshop). Accessed 07 Mar 2025

Peloso P.L.V., Faivovich J., Grant T., Gasparini J.L., and Haddad C.F.B. 2012. An Extraordinary New Species of Melanophryniscus (Anura, Bufonidae) from Southeastern Brazil. American Museum Novitates, 3762:1-32.

Pontes J.A.L., Pontes R.C., Santa-Fé C.P., Lima V.M., Rocha C.F.D. 2010. Amphibia, Anura, Leiuperidae, Physalaemus soaresi Izecksohn, 1965: New record, distribution extension and geographic distribution map. Check List, 6:159-161.