This species occurs mainly in northern Venezuela, centred on the Lake Maracaibo Basin. Its range includes a small part of northeastern Colombia. It has been introduced into the Lake Valencia Basin in northern Venezuela, posing concern about its possible expansion to the south into other river basins, such as the Orinoco. In Venezuela, its altitudinal range is from sea level up to 300m asl.
Habitat and Ecology
It is an aquatic species living in lakes, ponds, and marshes in flat, open areas, including grassland and flooded habitats. It is able to cross land. The eggs are carried on the back of the female, and the larvae emerge into water, where they develop.
It is a very common species. Its introduced population is expanding into previously unoccupied areas in central Venezuela.
There are no known threats. It is controlled as a pest, but this has a negligible impact on its populations.
It is not known from any protected areas. The introduced populations need to be controlled to prevent its expansion into the Orinoco river basin.
Red List Status
Least Concern (LC)
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.
Enrique La Marca, Jesús Manzanilla, Manfred Beier 2010. Pipa parva. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T58162A11742800. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T58162A11742800.en