Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

202
Threatened Amphibians of the World
EN Pedostibes tuberculosus Günther, 1875
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: India
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© S.U. Saravanakumar
Geographic Range This species is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, where it has a very fragmented range.
It occurs at elevations of 300-1,800m asl.
Population There is no reliable information available on the population status of this species, although it is locally
uncommon and believed to be declining.
Habitat and Ecology It is a semi-arboreal species generally associated with montane moist evergreen forest.
Breeding takes place on the ground at stream banks, and the larvae develop in water.
Major Threats It is threatened by the conversion of its forest habitat to non-timber plantations (including coffee
and tea), the collection of timber and wood for subsistence use by local people, and the construction of roads and
dams.
Conservation Measures It has been recorded from several protected areas, including the Konya Wild Life Sanctuary
(Maharashtra), Cotigao Wild Life Sanctuary (Goa), Indira Ghandi National Park and Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger
Reserve (Tamil Nadu), Ponmudi Hills and Silent Valley National Park (Kerala). The species is the focus of ongoing
studies from 1998 to the present (S. D. Biju pers. comm.).
Bibliography: Biju, S.D. (2001), Chanda, S.K. (2002), Das, I. and Whittakar, R. (1988), Das, I. and Whittakar, R. (1990), Dutta, S.K. (1997),
Günther, A. (1876), Inger, R.F. et al. (1984), Pillai, R.S. (1986)
Data Providers: S.D. Biju, Sushil Dutta, Robert Inger, Vivek Ashok Gour-Broome
EN Pelophryne albotaeniata Barbour, 1938
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Philippines
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is found only on Palawan Island,
in the Philippines. The type locality was at an elevation of 1,500m
asl.
Population It is apparently rare, and there have been no fi eld
observations of this species for more than 40 years, though this may
be an artefact of limited survey work.
Habitat and Ecology It inhabits arboreal microhabitats in riverine
habitat in montane and lowland forests. Its breeding biology
is unrecorded, but it presumably takes place in water by larval
development.
Major Threats The loss of lowland rainforest, mainly due to
agricultural activities and selective logging, is a major threat to
this species.
Conservation Measures Although the forests on Palawan are,
in general, reasonably well protected in much of the island, more
effective protection of the remaining rainforest on the island, especially
riverine habitats and gallery forests, is necessary. Further survey work is also needed to establish the current
population status of this species.
Bibliography: Alcala, A.C. and Brown, W.C. (1985), Brown, R.M., Diesmos, A.C. and Alcala, A.C. (2001), Frost, D.R. (1985), Inger, R.F.
(1954), Inger, R.F. (1960b), Inger, R.F. (1999), Taylor, E.H. (1923)
Data Providers: Arvin Diesmos, Angel Alcala, Rafe Brown, Leticia Afuang, Genevieve Gee, Katie Hampson, Mae Leonida Diesmos,
Aldrin Mallari, Perry Ong, Dondi Ubaldo, Baldwin Gutierrez
EN Pelophryne api Dring, 1984
Endangered B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Malaysia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Indraneil Das
Geographic Range This species is endemic to Borneo where it is known only from the type locality (Gunung Mulu
National Park) in northern Sarawak, Malaysia; however, it might occur a little more widely. It has an altitudinal
range of 65-1,200m asl.
Population The population status and abundance of the species is not known.
Habitat and Ecology All known specimens have been found in primary rainforest in limestone karst areas. The
larvae are endotrophic and occur in small pools on the forest fl oor.
Major Threats It is not certain whether this species is entirely restricted to karst areas, but, if so, then its distribution
is likely to be extremely patchy and localized, thereby exposing this species to the hazards of stochastic events.
Conservation Measures The only known locality for the species is protected in Gunung Mulu National Park, a
52,000-ha park that is the most studied tropical karst area in the world. Further survey work is requried to determine
the current population status of the species at this locality, and whether it might be present in other karst areas
of Borneo.
Bibliography: Dring, J.C.M. (1984b), Dring, J.C.M. (1984b), Inger, R.F. and Stuebing, R.B. (1997)
Data Providers: Robert Inger, Indraneil Das, Robert Stuebing, Maklarin Lakim, Paul Yambun
VU Pelophryne guentheri (Boulenger, 1882)
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Indonesia, Malaysia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is known from south-western
and north-eastern Sarawak (Malaysia) and Serasan (north-western
Kalimantan, Indonesia), and might also occur in north-western Kalimantan
(Indonesia) and south-western Sabah (Malaysia), in Borneo.
It probably occurs more widely than current records suggest. It is a
lowland species present at elevations below 200m asl.
Population There is no information on the population status of
this species.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in the leaf-litter of hilly lowland
primary moist forest. The large eggs are probably deposited in very
small rain pools.
Major Threats The major threat to this species is habitat loss due
to logging. The northern part of the range now consists of disturbed
habitat (largely deforested) and it is unclear whether or not the
species still survives there.
Conservation Measures The species is present in Kubah National Park, although the southern section is facing
increasing pressure from encroaching logging activities. There is a need for improved habitat protection of sites at
which this species is known to occur.
Bibliography: Inger, R.F. (1966), Leong, T.M., Grismer, L. and Mumpuni (2002)
Data Providers: Robert Inger, Indraneil Das, Robert Stuebing, Maklarin Lakim, Paul Yambun