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 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 Rob Hopkins Sarah Davies Peter Conradie Yankho Chapeta
Facilitators: Alex Rebelo Elena Garollo John Measey Kelsey Neam
Reviewers: Jennifer Luedtke

Rationale (Changed due to New Information)

Listed as Near Threatened because, although this species is fairly widespread, its range includes few protected areas, there is continuing decline in area, extent and quality of its habitat, and its population is considered to be severely fragmented with more than 50% of subpopulations considered to be non-viable. The species should be carefully monitored as the loss of one or more subpopulations could cause the species to qualify for a threatened category.

Distribution

This species, which is known only from South Africa, occurs in southern Mpumalanga, and central and eastern KwaZulu-Natal, south to Durban on the coast. The northernmost coastal record is from Hluhluwe. Recently the species has been recorded from Witrivier Town, northern Mpumalanga (L. du Preez pers. comm. August 2016). Based on the currently known distribution of this species, it is likely that it occurs in Swaziland, although there are no records confirming that. It ranges from sea level up to over 1,000 m Asl on the summit of the Lebombo Mountains.

Decline

Breeding populations are distributed along the highly transformed coast. No subpopulation has >50% of individuals and >50% of subpopulations are considered non-viable.

Population trend

Trend

Breeding congregations of this species appear to be relatively small and widely dispersed. Due to its secretive nature, it appears very difficult to find. This species is considered to be severely fragmented as no subpopulation has >50% of individuals and >50% of subpopulations are considered non-viable.

Threats

The bulk of the known range is along the central KwaZulu-Natal coast, where it is highly fragmented and pressured. The main threats to this species include: habitat loss due to afforestation, sugar cane cultivation, urbanization and invasive alien plants lowering the water table.

Uses and trade

There are no records of this species being utilized.

Conservation

Conservation Actions
This species occurs in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, and possibly the White River Nature Reserve. The coastal subpopulations occur in some protected areas, such as Umlalazi Nature Reserve, but the areas are not substantial and are heavily pressured in surrounding catchment (J. Harvey pers. comm. August 2016). It might occur in Amatikulu Nature Reserve (small and isolated) and only just overlaps with iSimangaliso Wetland Park in the south. The inland subpopulations are poorly known, but likely do not occur in protected areas. Habitat protection in these areas is moderate, but not enough area is protected (J. Harvey pers. comm. August 2016).

Conservation Needed
Improved habitat protection is required at sites where this species is known to occur.

Research Needed
Studies on its population size, distribution and trends, ability to disperse, life history and ecology (including terrestrial habitat requirements), and threats are needed.

References 

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,]
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