Red List of South African Species

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

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Listed as Near Threatened because, although it occurs in about 15 different locations and it is not considered to be severely fragmented, its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 14,505 km2 and the quality of its habitat in the southwestern Cape is declining making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable under the B criterion.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Cape lowlands (below 280 m Asl), north of the city of Cape Town and west of the Cape Fold Mountains, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It occurs from the Cape Flats, through the wheat-growing region known as the Swartland, northwards for approximately 200 km to Graafwater, with two relictual populations occurring in the Olifants and Breede River valleys. Its EOO (14,505 km2) appears to have contracted over the last few decades, in tandem with increased urbanization, and it is now extirpated from the urban areas and immediate surroundings of Cape Town. However, this process has slowed in recent years.

Decline

The reduction in EOO is likely to have ceased.

Population trend

Trend

Subpopulations are widely scattered and fragmented; and it generally does not occur at high densities at breeding sites. Most of the populations that were close to regions of heavy urbanization have been lost. Two historical sites, Stellenbosch original old golf course and Rosebank corner of Rondebosch Common, are now extinct, and the subpopulation from inland of Macassar to Faure area is possibly extinct. More surveys need to be conducted in the Macassar area to determine whether the species is still extant.

Threats

This species occurs in a habitat that is in high demand for urbanisation and agriculture, and over 90% of its former habitat has been transformed by agriculture or urbanization. These same areas are under pressure from alien invasive plants which threaten to dry the breeding habitats. The long-term viability of populations living in disturbed agricultural fields, which contain high levels of agro-chemicals, is uncertain.

Uses and trade

There are no records of this species being utilized.

Conservation

Conservation Actions
It is known to occur in three protected areas: J.N. Briers-Louw Provincial Nature Reserve (near Paarl), Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve (near Hermon) and the adjoining Voëlvlei Provincial Nature Reserve. No conservation priorities are assigned to this species.

Research Needed
Knowledge of the biology and ecology of the species, together with how these are affected by habitat changes and different land uses, and in particular agrochemicals, are needed to better evaluate its status. This species is due for another systematic distribution survey.

References 

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 address = {Ithaca and London},
 author = {Channing, A.},
 publisher = {Cornell University Press},
 title = {Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa},
 year = {2001}
}
,@book{596,
 address = {Washington, D.C.},
 author = {Minter, L.R., Burger, M., Harrison, J.A., Braack, H.H., Bishop, P.J. and Knoepfer, D.},
 publisher = {SI/MAB Series No. 9},
 title = {Atlas and Red Data Book of the Frogs of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland},
 year = {2004}
}
,@book{596,
 address = {Johannesburg},
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 publisher = {Southern Book Publishers and Witwatersrand University Press},
 title = {South African Frogs, 2nd Edition},
 year = {1995}
}
,@book{1301,
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 title = {Frogs of South Africa, 2nd edition},
 year = {1986}
}
,@book{1301,
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 publisher = {Struik Nature},
 title = {A Complete Guide to the Frogs of Southern Africa},
 year = {2009}
}
,@electronic{1301,
 address = {http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html},
 author = {Frost, D.R.},
 publisher = {American Museum of Natural History},
 title = {Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 (31 March 2016)},
 year = {2016}
}
,@electronic{3069,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-2},
 year = {2017}
}
,@article{3441,
 author = {De Villiers, C.G.S.},
 journal = {Annals of the Transvaal Museum},
 number = {13},
 pages = {123--141},
 title = {Some observations on the breeding habits of the Anura of the Stellenbosch Flats, in particular of <i>Cacosternum capense</i> and <i>Bufo angusticeps</i>},
 year = {1929}
}
,@book{3441,
 address = {Apple Valley, Minnesota},
 author = {Harrison, J.A., Burger, M., Minter, L.R., de Villiers, A.L., Baard, E.H.W., Scott, E., Bishop, P.J. and Ellis, S.},
 publisher = {IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group},
 title = {Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for Southern African Frogs},
 year = {2001}
}
,]
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