Red List of South African Species

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Endangered (EN)
Assessors: IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group South African Frog Re-assessment Group (SA-FRoG)
Contributors: Alan Channing Alex Rebelo Andrew Turner Atherton de Villiers Francois Becker James Harvey Jeanne Tarrant John Measey Krystal A Tolley Leslie Minter Louis du Preez Michael Cunningham Ninda Baptista Rob Hopkins Werner Conradie Yankho Chapeta
Facilitators: Alex Rebelo Elena Garollo John Measey Kelsey Neam
Reviewers: Jennifer Luedtke

Rationale

It is listed as Endangered because both area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are very small (14 km2 and 166 km2, respectively), its population is considered severely fragmented with all individuals occurring in two locations, and there is continuing decline in the extent of its habitat in the permanent montane wetlands of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa.

Distribution

This species is known only from two threat-defined locations in the Amathole Mountains: near Hogsback and eastwards to Thomas River in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa (Conradie 2014). It occurs in montane wetlands between 1,200 and 1,500 m Asl (Conradie 2014). Its EOO is 166 km2 and within that, its AOO is estimated to be 14 km2.

Population trend

Trend

It can be common in suitable permanent montane wetlands. However, its population is considered severely fragmented because the habitat between known sites of occurrence has been channalised and drained, therefore it is not suitable anymore. Recent surveys of all the wetlands in the Amathole Forestry Company area confirm the species to be present in nine out of 20 surveyed (W. Conradie pers. obs. October 2014).

Threats

The main threats are the drying out of wetlands due to their channelisation, increase of invasive plants, cattle farming, uncontrolled fires and small scale agriculture.

Uses and trade

There are no records of this species being utilized.

Conservation

Conservation Actions
It is not known from any protected area. The Amathole Forestry Company is aware of this species and its limited range, and is managing the burning of the wetlands (W. Conradie pers. comm. August 2016). 

Conservation Needed
The habitat of this species would need to be protected and managed.

Research Needed
Studies on its population size, distribution and trends, life history and ecology, and threats are needed. It should be looked for in the Winterberg and montane wetlands further north to the Stormsberg area.

References 

[@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{76317542,
 author = {Conradie, W.},
 journal = {Zootaxa},
 pages = {438--452},
 title = {The King of the Dwarves: a new cryptic species of Dainty Frog (Anura: Pyxicephalidae: <i>Cacosternum</i>) from the eastern Great Escarpment of South Africa},
 volume = {3785},
 year = {2014}
}
,]
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