Cauca Poison Frog vs

Andinobates bombetes compared with Chrysosphaerella longispina

Key Differences

Cauca Poison Frog is Vulnerable while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cauca Poison Frog
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Chromista (Chromista)
Phylum	Chordata (cordados)	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)
Class	Amphibia (Anfíbios)	Chrysophyceae (Chrysophyceae)
Order	Anura (Frogs & Toads)	Ochromonadales (Ochromonadales)
Family	Dendrobatidae (Poison Dart Frogs)	Paraphysomonadaceae
Genus	Andinobates	Chrysosphaerella
Species	Andinobates bombetes	Chrysosphaerella longispina

Conservation Status

Cauca Poison Frog

VU — Vulnerable

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cauca Poison Frog
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cauca Poison Frog

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

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

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Cauca Poison Frog

The Cauca Poison Frog (Andinobates bombetes) is a species in the genus Andinobates. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Chrysosphaerella longispina is a colonial chrysophyte alga in the genus Chrysosphaerella, notable for the long silica spines (longispina: Latin, long spine) that project from each cell in the colony. The genus is characterized by spherical or discoid colonies of photosynthetic cells that each secrete siliceous scales and elongated spine-like appendages, making Chrysosphaerella colonies distinctively bristled and visible under light microscopy. The long spines of C. longispina likely serve as anti-predation structures that make the colonies more difficult for zooplankton to ingest. C. longispina is found in cold, oligotrophic freshwater lakes, particularly in Scandinavia, where comprehensive chrysophyte surveys have documented its presence. Chrysosphaerella colonies contribute to freshwater primary production and the cycling of biogenic silica, which upon cell dissolution is deposited in lake sediments as microscopically identifiable remains. These silica structures are widely used by paleolimnologists to reconstruct past changes in lake water chemistry, thermal stratification, and climate. The conservation status of C. longispina has not been assessed by the IUCN; the species is listed as Not Evaluated.