Rationale
(Changed due to Same category and criteria)
Listed as Least Concern since it is common and adaptable with a presumed large population.
Distribution
This species is endemic to the highlands of southern and eastern Lesotho above 2,000 m asl. It presumably occurs in nearby South Africa, but so far there have not been any records. The Extent of Occurrence has not been formally approximated.
Apart from the local effects of dams, this species does not appear to be seriously threatened, despite its relatively small range. However it has the ecological characteristics of a species that is potentially at risk from chytridiomycosis, and so its populations should be regularly monitored.
Uses and trade
There are no reports of this species being utilized.
Conservation
This species has been identified as potentially being vulnerable to chytrid fungus (high altitude stream breeder) and as such should undergo monitoring once basic life history, threats and population trends have been assessed. There are still taxonomic issues within this group which require more work. It presumably occurs in one or two protected areas, such as Sehlabathebe National Park.
[@book{596,
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}
}
,@article{596,
author = {Lambiris, A.J.L.},
journal = {Lammergeyer},
pages = {1--210},
title = {A review of the amphibians of Natal},
volume = {39},
year = {1989}
}
,@electronic{596,
address = {http://www.iucnredlist.org},
author = {IUCN},
title = {IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2013.2)},
year = {2013}
}
,@electronic{596,
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 5.6 (9 January 2013). Electronic Database},
year = {2013}
}
,@article{54358,
author = {Channing, A.},
journal = {Annals of the Natal Museum},
number = {23},
pages = {361--365},
title = {A new Rana from the Lesotho plateau (Amphibia: Anura)},
year = {1978}
}
,@article{54358,
author = {Visser, J. and Channing, A.},
journal = {Journal of African Zoology},
pages = {191--198},
title = {A new species of river frog from the Swartberg, South Africa (Ranidae: <i>Afrana</i>)},
volume = {111},
year = {1997}
}
,@article{54358,
author = {Tarrant, J., Cunningham, M.J. and Du Preez, L.H.},
journal = {Zootaxa},
pages = {33--48},
title = {Maluti Mystery: A systematic review of <i>Amietia vertebralis</i> (Hewitt, 1927) and <i>Strongylopus hymenopus</i> (Boulenger, 1920) (Anura: Pyxicephalidae)},
volume = {1962},
year = {2008}
}
,@article{54358,
author = {Bates, M.F. and Haacke, W.D.},
journal = {Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum, Bloemfontein},
pages = {101--158},
title = {The frogs of Lesotho: diversity and distribution},
volume = {19},
year = {2003}
}
,@article{54358,
author = {Channing, A.},
journal = {Annals of the Natal Museum},
pages = {797--831},
title = {Ecological and systematic relationships of <i>Rana</i> and <i>Strongylopus</i> in southern Natal},
volume = {23},
year = {1979}
}
,]
