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 this species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1,845 km2, it is relatively abundant where it occurs, appears to have a stable population and occurs almost entirely within protected areas. However, there are ongoing threats (such as alien vegetation and climate change considerations) which are not currently severe, but that make the species close to qualifying for threatened status.

Distribution

This species occurs only in the Hottentots Holland, Kogelberg Mountain complex, and the Klein River Mountains, in the southwestern part of Western Cape Province, South Africa, from 200–1,800 m Asl. The map has been refined resulting in the range at Gordons Bay being removed because the species has never been recorded there (J. Measey pers. comm. March 2017). It occurs in four threat-defined locations, its EOO is 1,845 km2 and its area of occupancy (AOO) is 695 km2.

Population trend

Trend

This species is relatively abundant within areas where it occurs and the population is believed to be stable. However, it has disappeared at one site (Gordons Bay) and invasive plants are known to have affected its population.

Threats

The main threats to this species are the spread of alien species (pines in particular), afforestation, construction of dams. However, these threats are currently believed to be relatively minor due to sound reserve management.

Uses and trade

There are no records of this species being utilized.

Conservation

Conservation Actions
No conservation actions are currently prioritized for this species. All populations recorded to date have been found in protected areas, Kogelberg Biosphere Nature Reserve, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve and Fernkloof Nature Reserve.

Research Needed
Taxonomic studies should be prioritized to establish the status of disjunct distributions. Further studies on its population size, distribution and trends, and threats are needed as well. Monitoring of population trends is needed to determine whether invasive plants and other threats are leading to a decline in population.

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 = {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{1301,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {du Preez, L. and Carruthers, V.},
 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{58153,
 author = {Channing, A. and Boycott, R.C.},
 journal = {Copeia},
 pages = {467--471},
 title = {A new frog genus and species from the mountains of the southwestern Cape, South Africa (Anura: Ranidae)},
 volume = {1989},
 year = {1989}
}
,]
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