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 Same category and criteria)

Listed as Near Threatened because, although its a small extent of occurrence (453 km2), extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals and subpopulations and small number of locations, it is relatively abundant and the current threats are not considered to be too severe. However, future decline in the extent and quality of its habitat might led this species to become threatened.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Table Mountain and the other mountains of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, where it occurs from sea level up to 1,000 m asl. It is known from four locations and its extent of occurrence is 453 km2.

Population trend

Trend

This species appears to be relatively abundant on the Cape Peninsula. Fire and post-fire impacts on number of mature individuals are expected to cause large fluctuations in subpopulation sizes (as in other members of this genus).

Threats

Even though its habitat is largely protected, the major threats to this species are the spread of alien species (in particular pines) and too frequent or intense fires which may cause extreme population fluctuations. Increased tourism in the area needs to be properly managed to minimise impact. There has probably been some loss of habitat in the past due to urban development and pine plantations on parts of the mountains.

Uses and trade

There are no records of this species being utilized.

Conservation

Conservation Actions
No conservation actions are currently prioritised for this species. Most of this species' range is in Table Mountain National Park and Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens.

Conservation Needed
Results from research need to be placed into a management framework for active conservation measures, inclusive of invasive species control, and potential impacts from tourism need to be properly managed.

Research Needed
Studies on its population size, distribution and trends, life history and ecology, and threats are needed.

References 

[@electronic{63356,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-3},
 year = {2016}
}
,@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}
}
,@book{596,
 address = {Johannesburg},
 author = {Passmore, N.I. and Carruthers, V.C.},
 publisher = {Southern Book Publishers and Witwatersrand University Press},
 title = {South African Frogs, 2nd Edition},
 year = {1995}
}
,@book{1301,
 address = {Craighall},
 author = {Wager, V.A.},
 publisher = {Delta Books},
 title = {Frogs of South Africa, 2nd edition},
 year = {1986}
}
,@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}
}
,@article{58057,
 author = {Channing, A., Hendricks, D. and Dawood, A.},
 journal = {South African Journal of Zoology},
 pages = {240--243},
 title = {Description of a new moss frog from the south-western Cape (Anura: Ranidae: <i>Arthroleptella</i>)},
 volume = {29},
 year = {1994}
}
,]
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