Broad skate vs Cloud Forest Treefrog

Amblyraja badia compared with Megastomatohyla nubicola

Key Differences

• Broad skate is Least Concern while Cloud Forest Treefrog is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Broad skate	Cloud Forest Treefrog
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order	Rajiformes (Rajiformes)	Anura (Frogs & Toads)
Family	Rajidae	Hylidae
Genus	Amblyraja	Megastomatohyla
Species	Amblyraja badia	Megastomatohyla nubicola

Evolutionary Relationship

Broad skate and Cloud Forest Treefrog share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Broad skate

LC — Least Concern

Cloud Forest Treefrog

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Broad skate	Cloud Forest Treefrog
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Broad skate

Cloud Forest Treefrog

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Nearctic and Neotropic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Mexico. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Broad skate

The Broad Skate (Amblyraja badia) is a species in the genus Amblyraja. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is recognized for its ecological significance within its native range.

Cloud Forest Treefrog

Cloud forest treefrogs in the genus Megastomatohyla (family Hylidae) are medium to large arboreal frogs native to the montane cloud forests of Mexico and Guatemala, inhabiting humid highland forests at elevations between 1,500 and 2,800 meters. These treefrogs have large adhesive toe pads, long limbs adapted for climbing, and typically green or brown coloration with cryptic patterns matching lichen-covered bark and leaves. They breed in temporary and permanent pools in forest clearings and at stream margins, with males calling from vegetation over water on rainy nights. Larvae develop in small forest pools. The genus Megastomatohyla was separated from the large genus Hyla based on molecular and morphological studies distinguishing Middle American cloud forest specialists from their lowland relatives. Several species in this genus have experienced significant population declines attributed to chytridiomycosis in combination with habitat loss, and some are now considered Critically Endangered or Endangered. The montane cloud forests of Mexico and Guatemala harbor exceptional amphibian diversity but face deforestation pressures from agricultural expansion, charcoal production, and illegal logging that continue to reduce amphibian habitat area.