High up on the gentle slopes of the Cordillera del Condor (Condor mountains), in the small patches of dwarf forest that dot the landscape made up of Peruvian peppercorn trees (an unidentified species of Schinus) and a vast number of mostly unidentified species of vascular plant and bromeliads, the Peruphasma schultei was discovered in 2002 by Mr Rainer Schulte, hence the name.
The area has been heavily disputed by Ecuador and Peru for many years, and only recently has any real scientific exploration been possible and the area is proving to be home to a cornucopia of new species, including the black beauty.
This tiny area is the only place on Earth thus far where the black beauty has been discovered in the wild, and it shares its habitat with a species of poison frog (Excidobates mysteriosus – at this moment you may be forgiven for thinking you're reading a Harry Potter book...), simply put, where this frog is, so is the black beauty. The frog has recently been found living 100 km away from the Cordillera del Condor, and it is an exciting prospect that the schultei may also be found keeping it company, as of writing, no exploration has been conducted to find out.
Red listed as a critically endangered species in the wild (IUCN red-listed, critically endangered), the habitat of this beautiful animal is under threat from deforestation and mining operations in the area.
Since being discovered in the South spur of Cordillera del Condor, the black beauty has gained popularity with breeders worldwide and is now more populous in captivity than it is in the wild.
This is a draft, and very subject to change!