SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Despite some uncertainty around the limits of its range, this species is listed as Least Concern in view of its relatively wide distribution, presumed large population and the large amount of available suitable habitat.

Distribution

Following revisions to the Hyperolius nasutus complex by Channing et al. (2013), this species is now thought to be restricted to the southeastern coast of South Africa, eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, and marginally into northern Eastern Cape Province—an area formerly attributed to Hyperolius acuticeps—between 0–1,500 m Asl. Its presence has not been confirmed in neighbouring Mozambique and Swaziland. As such, its revised extent of occurrence (EOO) has been estimated as 46,851 km².

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

There is little quantitative information on the population size and trends. However, there has been an observable decline in the abundance and distribution of this species, which was previously common and widespread, and is now rarely encountered over much of its known range (Bishop 2004, James Harvey pers. comm. August 2016).

Threats

It is threatened by habitat loss and degradation caused by coastal development, wetland drainage, afforestation, expansion of sugar cane plantations, and wetland degradation through over-utilization by cattle.

Uses and trade

There are no reports of this species being utilized.

Conservation

Conservation Actions
It has historically been recorded in a number of protected areas, including the Mkambathi Nature Reserve, Ndumu Game Reserve, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park; however, there are few recent records from most of these areas, e.g. despite intensive surveys, it has not been found in Ndumu Game Reserve (Louis du Preez pers. comm. August 2016).

Conservation Needed
In view of large scale habitat degradation and wetland loss within its range, and its decline and current rarity, it requires habitat and site protection.

Research Needed
Research is urgently required regarding its current distribution, population size and trends, ecological requirements, and threats.

References

[@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}
}
,@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{3069,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-2},
 year = {2017}
}
,@article{54359,
 author = {Venter, A.J. and Conradie, W.},
 journal = {Koedoe},
 number = {1},
 pages = {1--25},
 title = {A checklist of the reptiles and amphibians found in the protected areas along the South African Wild Coast, with notes on conservation implications},
 volume = {57},
 year = {2015}
}
,@article{136026,
 author = {Channing, A., Hillers, A., Lötters, S., Rödel, M.-O., Schick, S., Conradie, W., Rödder, D., Mercurio, V., Wagner, P., Dehling, J.M., Du Preez, L.H., Kielgast, J. and Burger, M.},
 journal = {Zootaxa},
 number = {3},
 pages = {301--350},
 title = {Taxonomy of the super-cryptic <i>Hyperolius nasutus</i> group of long reed frogs of Africa (Anura: Hyperoliidae), with descriptions of six new species},
 volume = {3620},
 year = {2013}
}
,]

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