Red List of South African Species

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Vulnerable (VU)
Assessors: IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group South African Frog Re-assessment Group (SA-FRoG)
Contributors: Alan Channing Alex Rebelo Andrew A Turner Atherton L de Villiers Francois Becker James Harvey Jeanne Tarrant John Measey Krystal A Tolley Leslie Minter Louis du Preez Marius Burger Michael Cunningham Ninda Baptista Sarah Davies Rob Hopkins Yankho Chapeta Peter Conradie
Facilitators: Alex Rebelo Jennifer Luedtke John Measey Kelsey Neam
Reviewers: Ariadne Angulo

Rationale (Changed due to New Information)

Listed as Vulnerable, as this species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1,185 km2, it is known from three locations, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of habitat. Although this species qualifies as Endangered, it appears to be plentiful where it occur, is not considered to be fragmented and the decline in habitat quality is not thought to be particularly severe.

Distribution

This species is known only from the Amathole, Katberg and Keiskammahoek Mountains (three threat-defined locations) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It occurs above 950 m asl. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 1,185 km2 and its area of occupancy (AOO) is 422 km2. There is a record from near Patensie (J. Visser pers. obs.), some 200 km southwest of the main range, but the species has not been found in this area since it was discovered in 1961 and needs verification, and thus it has not been included in this assessment.

Population trend

Trend

It can be common in suitable places. The population is not thought to be severely fragmented as less than half of the animals are in isolated patches. It is recorded from three locations. The largest subpopulations occur in the Hogsback and Isidenge forest, while the western Katberg subpopulation is confined to a very small area (W. Conradie pers. comm. August 2016). All three subpopulations' status has recently been confirmed; Katberg and Isidenge confirmed as of April 2016 by W. Conradie and A. Rebelo and Hogsback confirmed as of July 2015 by W. Conradie.

Threats

The main threat is habitat loss due to wood collection, afforestation, encroachment of invasive plants and too-frequent fire regimes. The forests that this species inhabits are vulnerable to degradation due to changes in management of the surrounding landscape, especially with respect to alien plants. Pines are often planted right up to the natural forests, destroying the grassland-forest ecotone and subject to 'escapees' establishing themselves in natural forest patches (J. Tarrant pers. comm. August 2016). Logging and main roads have been noted to bisect some breeding sites. Its remaining habitat is very restricted and patchy.

Uses and trade

There are no records of this species being utilized.

Conservation

Conservation Actions
It occurs in several state forests and nature reserves, including Hogsback Indigenous Forest, Katberg Forest, and Stutterheim Nature Reserve. Replanting of indigenous tree species within the distribution is underway in several areas around Hogsback (J. Tarrant pers. comm. August 2016).

Conservation Needed
Forest grassland ecotone protection might benefit this species and may be an undervalued habitat for conservation. 

Research Needed
More information about the phenology of this species would be useful, as well as trends in populations and assessment about the magnitude perceived threats.

References 

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,]
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