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 Elizabeth Scott-Prendini Francois Becker James Harvey Jeanne Tarrant John Measey Krystal A Tolley Leslie Minter Louis du Preez Michael Cunningham Ninda Baptista Rob Hopkins Peter Conradie Yankho Chapeta
Facilitators: Alex Rebelo Elena Garollo John Measey Kelsey Neam
Reviewers: Jennifer Luedtke

Rationale (Changed due to Taxonomy)

Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are 55 km2 and 317 km2 respectively, meeting the threshold for the Endangered category, and there is ongoing decline in the quality and extent of its habitat outside protected areas. However, it is an abundant species with a presumed large population and occurs primarily within areas where threats are actively managed. The species does not therefore meet all the required criteria to be listed as Endangered and it has, therefore, been listed as Near Threatened.

Distribution

This species is distributed in the southwestern Western Cape Province in South Africa, along the Cape Peninsula. Based on genetics, the currently known easternmost limit is at Kenilworth Racecoarse and Rondevlei (Channing et al. 2013). It is a low altitude species, its EOO is 317 km2 and its AOO is estimated to be 55 km2.

Population trend

Trend

It is locally abundant where it occurs in aquatic habitats throughout the Cape peninsula, but is absent from artificial habitats, including impoundements and garden ponds, which make up most of the freshwater sites within its extent of occurrence (J. Measey pers. comm. March 2016). All of the sites from which it is known have a protected status.

Threats

The Cape peninsula is under huge pressure from urban development, the draining of wetlands and invasive alien plants. This species is found primarily within protected areas where all of these threats are actively managed.

Uses and trade

There are no records of this species being utilized.

Conservation

Conservation Actions
It occurs in several protected areas in the Cape Floral Region.

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

References 

[@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 = {Frankfurt am Main},
 author = {Pickersgill, M.},
 publisher = {Edition Chimaira},
 title = {Frog Search. Results of Expeditions to Southern and Eastern Africa.},
 year = {2007}
}
,@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}
}
,@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}
}
,@electronic{3069,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-2},
 year = {2017}
}
,@article{11700,
 author = {Poynton, J.C.},
 journal = {Annals of the Natal Museum},
 pages = {1--334},
 title = {The amphibia of southern Africa: a faunal study},
 volume = {17},
 year = {1964}
}
,@book{58072,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Rose, W.},
 publisher = {Maskew Miller},
 title = {The Reptiles and Amphibians of Southern Africa},
 year = {1962}
}
,@article{58072,
 author = {Channing, A., Schmitz, A., Burger, M. and Kielgast, J.},
 journal = {Zootaxa},
 number = {5},
 pages = {518--550},
 title = {A molecular phylogeny of African Dainty Frogs, with the description of four new species (Anura: Pyxicephalidae: <i>Cacosternum</i>)},
 volume = {3701},
 year = {2013}
}
,]
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