Red List of South African Species

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

Rationale (Changed due to New Information|Taxonomy)

The species is Least Concern due to its relatively wide distribution across its range and apparent abundance at sites at which it occurs. However, the population as a whole is likely to have experienced declines as a result of the damming of major rivers in Lesotho as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, as well as, recent road construction projects, resulting in local impacts on river habitat. It does appear to tolerate some habitat modification in the form of eutrophication.

Distribution

This species is a high-altitude montane anuran, usually occurring between 1,600–3,400 m asl, and is endemic to southern Africa and Lesotho. It occurs in the Afro Mountain Grassland and Alti Mountain Grassland areas and is found in most of the major rivers of Lesotho, as well as in the upper reaches of tributaries of the Thukela and Mzimkulu rivers in the Drakensberg of KwaZulu-Natal, the Elands River in the Free State, and the Bell River in the Eastern Cape. 

Population trend

Trend

It is locally abundant across its range throughout eastern and central Lesotho. Subpopulations in Silaka Nature Reserve, near Port St. Johns in the Eastern Cape, occur in abundance (Venter and Conradie 2015). It may have experienced local declines as a result of damming of major rivers for the Katse and Mohale dams. Concerns have previously been raised over recorded pathogen-related mortalities (Smith et al. 2007), although the effect on this species is as yet unknown.

Threats

It is not significantly threatened because of the remoteness of its habitat. Local populations are probably affected by afforestation, dam building, and overgrazing by livestock, especially sheep, causing erosion and subsequent siltation of rivers. It is used in local traditional medicine for treating burns, but probably not at a level to constitute a threat to the species. Populations have been found to be infected by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which causes chytridiomycosis. This frog has the ecological characteristics of a species that is potentially at risk from chytridiomycosis, and so its populations should be regularly monitored (there has already been one recorded die-off, but this was not confirmed to be a result of chytridiomycosis). 

It could also be potentially threatened in areas of Lesotho affected by the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, where the filling of the Katse and Mohale Dams may have resulted in habitat loss, as well as, the isolation and even extinction of some populations (Bates 2002, Minter et al. 2004). An additional observed risk to both species is the threat of predation and competition posed by the introduction of trout and other alien fish for recreational fishing into the main rivers of Lesotho (Swartz 2005). In heavily stocked regions it is common that the frog species only occurs in smaller rivers and tributaries not accessible to trout, for example, where above waterfalls, which inhibit the movement of trout.

Uses and trade

It is used in local traditional medicine for treating burns and may be eaten on rare occasions (A. Rebelo pers. comm. August 2016).

Conservation

Conservation Actions
The species has a relatively restricted range and is endemic to the Lesotho and Drakensberg highlands. It occurs, and is therefore protected, in the following nature reserves in South Africa: Cathedral Peak, Drakensberg Gardens, Giant’s Castle Game Reserve and the Royal Natal National Park. In Lesotho it occurs in Ts’ehlanyane National Park, Sehlabathebe National Park and the Bokong Nature Reserve. It also occurs in uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and rivers in the Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Park between Sehlabathebe and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site (Bates 2002).

Research Needed
This species would benefit from monitoring of subpopulations with particular reference to the spread and effect of chytrid. Base line data on life-history, ecology, population trends and threats are all required before monitoring can begin.

References 

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