Red List of South African Species

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Endangered (EN)
B2ab(ii,iii,iv)
Assessors: Corinna Bazelet Piotr Naskrecki
Reviewers: Axel Hochkirch Mark Bushell

Rationale

The Brown False Shieldback is Endangered under criterion B2 because its AOO is estimated to be 10 km2, it is only known from two locations, and the number of locations and AOO are expected to be in decline. This species only occurs in Mesic Highveld Grasslands at an elevation above 1200 m. These areas are suitable for cultivation with timber plantations, other non-perennial crops, livestock grazing and human development, so its distribution is likely to decrease in future. The most likely threats to the species are increased grazing by wildlife or livestock, cultivation with timber plantations or non-perennial crops, human development, or change in microclimate or distribution of the species' food plants as a result of climate change. Due to its small body size, low motility and current distribution at high elevations, this species cannot be expected to shift its range in response to changes in its habitat. 

Distribution

The Brown False Shieldback (Aroegas fuscus) is known only from two localities in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa.

Population trend

Trend

No information on population sizes or trends exists.

Threats

Due to its severely restricted distribution, the Brown False Shieldback is particularly prone to any changes in its habitat. The most likely disturbances are increased grazing by wildlife or livestock, cultivation with timber plantations or non-perennial crops, human development, or climate change-associated variation in weather patterns which can affect the distribution of this species’ food plant and microhabitat conditions. Likely threats include droughts, floods, wildfires, and extreme temperature fluctuations.

Uses and trade

This species is not utilized.

Conservation

No specific conservation measures are in place for this species and it is not known to occur within any protected areas.

References 

[@electronic{15431178,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1},
 year = {2014}
}
,@article{20638495,
 author = {Naskrecki, P.},
 journal = {African Journal of Zoology},
 number = {2},
 pages = {159--193},
 title = {Systematics of the southern African Meconematinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)},
 volume = {110.0},
 year = {1996}
}
,]
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