Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

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198 Threatened Amphibians of the World EN Nectophrynoides vestergaardi Menegon, Salvidio and Loader, 2004 Endangered B1ab(iii) Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae Country Distribution: Tanzania Current Population Trend: Decreasing CITES: Appendix I © Martin Vestergaard Geographic Range This species is known only from the West Usambara Mountains in north-eastern Tanzania. There are records from the Shume-Magamba Forest Reserve, the Mazumbai Forest Reserve, and the Ambangulu Estate between 1,230 and 2,000m asl. Population There is little information available on its population status. However, the fact that 23 specimens have been found widely over the West Usambara Mountains, despite limited survey effort, suggests that it is not uncommon in suitable habitat within its small range. Habitat and Ecology All records have been from montane and submontane forest, including in the ecotone between forest and ericaceous vegetation. It is probably terrestrial, and some animals were found inside a rotten log. Its breeding is unknown, but it is assumed to be ovoviviparous, like other members of its genus, with internal fertilization, giving birth to tiny toadlets. Major Threats In some parts of the West Usambaras its habitat is probably being lost, especially due to agricultural encroachment, commercial logging, wood extraction, and expanding human settlements. Conservation Measures It occurs in the University of Dar es Salaam’s forest reserve at Mazumbai, but additional protection of the habitat in the West Usambara Mountains is needed. Bibliography: Menegon, M., Salvidio, S. and Loader, S.P. (2004) Data Providers: Michele Menegon, Simon Loader VU Nectophrynoides viviparus (Tornier, 1905) Vulnerable B1ab(iii) Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae Country Distribution: Tanzania Current Population Trend: Decreasing CITES: Appendix I © David Moyer / Wildlife Conservation Society Geographic Range This species occurs in the Uluguru and Udzungwa Mountains and in the Southern Highlands of eastern and southern Tanzania. It is a montane species, ranging from 1,350-2,800m asl. Population It is relatively common. Habitat and Ecology It is a terrestrial species living in forest, bamboo, and grasslands at the forest edge. It has been found in maize cultivation, but needs to be close to the forest edge, and probably cannot tolerate complete opening up of its habitat. It breeds by internal fertilization, the females retaining the larvae internally in the oviduct until little toadlets are born. Major Threats The major threat to this species is habitat loss, especially at lower altitudes, due to agricultural encroachment, wood extraction and expanding human settlements. Conservation Measures It occurs in several forest reserves, but has not been found in any well-protected area. It might occur in the Udzungwa National Park, but has thus far not been recorded. Bibliography: Howell, K.M. (1993), Menegon, M. (2000), Perret, J.-L. (1971a), Perret, J.-L. (1972), Poynton, J.C. (1998), Poynton, J.C. (2003b) Data Providers: Simon Loader, John Poynton, Kim Howell CR Nectophrynoides wendyae Clarke, 1988 Critically Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae Country Distribution: Tanzania Current Population Trend: Decreasing CITES: Appendix I © Michele Menegon Geographic Range This species is known from one tiny area, in the Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve, above Chita, on the escarpment of the Udzungwa Mountains, in eastern Tanzania. It is found from 1,500-1,650m asl. It has not been found at other localities in the Udzungwa Mountains. Population The species is quite common in one tiny area, measuring roughly 300m x 300m. Habitat and Ecology It is a species of montane moist forest, living on the ground. It is not known whether or not it can survive in anthropogenically disturbed habitats, since the only known site is in undisturbed forest. It breeds by internal fertilization, the females retaining the larvae internally in the oviduct until little toadlets are born. Major Threats Its habitat is probably being lost due to agricultural encroachment, wood extraction, and expanding human settlements. Conservation Measures This species occurs in the Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve, but not in any well-protected areas. The population status and trends of this species require monitoring. Bibliography: Clarke, B.T. (1988), Howell, K.M. (1993), Poynton, J.C. (1998), Poynton, J.C. (2003b) Data Providers: Michele Menegon, Simon Loader, John Poynton, Kim Howell CR Nimbaphrynoides liberiensis Xavier, 1979 “1978” Critically Endangered B1ab(iii) Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae Country Distribution: Liberia Current Population Trend: Decreasing CITES: Appendix I © Laura Sandberger Geographic Range This species is known only from the Mount Nimba region in Liberia. It presumably also occurs in adjacent parts of Guinea and perhaps also in Côte d’Ivoire, but there have not yet been any records. It is a montane species, and the type locality is at 1,290m asl. Population It is apparently extremely common in its small range, but there do not appear to have been any recent records, presumably due to a lack of fieldwork in the area. Habitat and Ecology It is apparently a species of forest and forest edge close to savannah. It is a viviparous species, with the female nourishing the young internally prior to the birth of small toadlets. Major Threats Habitat loss and degradation due to the mining of bauxite is the biggest threat to this species. There is probably also ongoing loss of forest due to wood extraction. The species is inherently at risk because of its small range. Conservation Measures This species presumably occurs in the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, which is a World Heritage Site. Survey work is necessary to determine the current population status and trends of this species. Bibliography: Grandison, A.G.C. (1981), Perret, J.-L. (1971a), Perret, J.-L. (1972), Xavier, F. (1978) Data Providers: Mark-Oliver Rödel, Arne Schiøtz
Globally Threatened Amphibian Species 199 CR Nimbaphrynoides occidentalis (Angel, 1943) Critically Endangered B1ab(iii) Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae Country Distribution: Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Current Population Trend: Decreasing CITES: Appendix I © Piotr Naskrecki Geographic Range This species is known only from the Mount Nimba region in Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. It presumably also occurs in Liberia, but there have not yet been any records. It is a montane species, occurring above 1,000m asl. Population It is apparently an abundant species within its small range, and a survey in 2003 succeeded in locating several individuals, even during the cold season when they are supposed to be inactive. Habitat and Ecology It is a species of montane grassland. It is a viviparous species, with the female nourishing the young internally prior to the birth of small toadlets. Major Threats Habitat loss and degradation due to the mining of iron ore/bauxite is the biggest threat to this species, and new mining sites have been selected recently for mining in the Guinean part of Mount Nimba. There is a risk that mining could destroy the entire range of the species. Fires in the montane grassland might be a threat. The species is inherently at risk because of its small range. Conservation Measures This species presumably occurs in the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, which is a World Heritage Site. Survey work is necessary to monitor the population status of this species. Bibliography: Lamotte, M. (1959), Lamotte, M. and Sanchez-Lamotte, C. (1999), Perret, J.-L. (1971a), Perret, J.-L. (1972), Xavier, F. (1978), Xavier, F., Zuber-Vogeli, M. and Le Quang, Y. (1970) Data Providers: Mark-Oliver Rödel, Arne Schiøtz VU Oreophrynella cryptica Señaris, 1995 “1993” Vulnerable D2 Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae Country Distribution: Venezuela Current Population Trend: Stable Geographic Range This species is restricted to the type locality: “Sector este, cima del Auyan-tepui, Estado Bolívar”, in Venezuela (05° 53’ 36”N; 62° 29’ 12”W), at 1,750m asl. Population It is a rare species. Habitat and Ecology It is an inhabitant of high montane tepui habitat. Its breeding habitat is unknown, but it is presumed to breed by direct development. Major Threats Although there are no current major threats, its restricted range makes it more susceptible to threatening processes, such as wildfire and disturbance of the habitat by tourists. Conservation Measures The species’ range is within Parque Nacional Canaima. There is a need for close population monitoring of this species given that it is restricted to a single location. Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Barrio, C. (1998), La Marca, E. (1997), Señaris, J.C. (1995) Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Celsa Señaris VU Oreophrynella huberi Diego-Aransay and Gorzula, 1987 Vulnerable D2 Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae Country Distribution: Venezuela Current Population Trend: Stable Geographic Range This species is restricted to the type locality, Cerro El Sol, to the north-east of the Auyán-tepui (0.6km² at 06° 06’N; 62° 32’W), in Bolívar state, Venezuela, at an elevation of 1,700m asl. Population It is a very rare species. Habitat and Ecology It is a diurnal toad that is found in thick herbaceous vegetation on peat bogs of high montane tepui environments. It breeds by direct development. Major Threats Although there are no current major threats, its restricted range makes it more susceptible to threatening processes. Conservation Measures The type locality of this species is within Parque Nacional Canaima. There is a need for close population monitoring of this species given that it is restricted to a single location. Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Diego-Aransay, A. and Gorzula, S. (1987), La Marca, E. (1992), Péfaur, J.E. and Rivero, J.A. (2000), Señaris, J.C., Ayarsagüena, J. and Gorzula, S. (1994), Vial, J.L. and Saylor, L. (1993) Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Celsa Señaris VU Oreophrynella macconnelli Boulenger, 1900 Vulnerable D2 Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae Country Distribution: Guyana, Venezuela Current Population Trend: Stable Geographic Range This species is known from the base of Mount Roraima on the border of Guyana and Venezuela, at an elevation of 1,060m asl. It is not absolutely certain which country the type specimen comes from, but it is presumed that the species is in fact present on both sides of the border. Population The population status of this species is not known. Habitat and Ecology It is an inhabitant of tropical moist submontane forest. Its breeding habitat is unknown, but it is presumed to breed by direct development. Major Threats Threats to this species are unknown, although its range is in relatively pristine habitat at present. Conservation Measures It is not known from any protected areas. A well-managed protected area would help to ensure the conservation of this range-restricted species. There is also a need for close population monitoring given that it is apparently restricted to a single location. Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Barrio, C. (1998), Frost, D.R. (1985), Gines, H. (1959), La Marca, E. (1992), La Marca, E. (1995b), La Marca, E. (1997), McDiarmid, R. (1971), McDiarmid, R. and Gorzula, S. (1989), Péfaur, J.E. and Rivero, J.A. (2000), Rivero, J.A. (1961), Señaris, J.C., Ayarsagüena, J. and Gorzula, S. (1994), Vial, J.L. and Saylor, L. (1993) Data Providers: Marinus Hoogmoed, Celsa Señaris
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Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

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