Near Threatened Amphibian Species - Amphibian Specialist Group

Near Threatened Amphibian Species 629in Nugaal Province. Recorded localities are the general vicinity of Garoowe, Bud Bud, El Ure (Uegit), Sciù Manàs(Baidoa), Dinsor, Rahole, Afgoi, and Showli Berdi (Bardera). It has been recorded up to 500m asl. It is a fairly commonspecies. Its habitat preferences when it is not breeding are not well known, though it is presumably a species of drysavannahs and semi-arid habitats. It breeds in temporary pools and small reservoirs. There is little information onthreats to this species. It might be affected by livestock grazing, and perhaps fire and droughts, but otherwise it doesnot appear to be significantly threatened at present. It does not occur in any protected areas.Bibliography: Lanza, B. (1978), Lanza, B. (1981), Lanza, B. (1990)Data Providers: Emilio Balletto, Benedetto Lanza, Annamaria Nistriis also a threat. The range of this species includes a few protected areas. Conservation measures must include theregulation and proper disposal of pesticides and herbicides, and the protection of the remaining rainforest, especiallyriverine habitats and gallery forests. Levels of human exploitation of this species need to be investigated to determineif harvesting from the wild needs to be managed more sustainably.Bibliography: Alcala, A.C. and Brown, W.C. (1985), Dubois, A. (1992), Emerson, S.E., Inger, R.F. and Iskandar, D. (2000), Frost, D.R.(1985), Inger, R.F. (1966), Inger, R.F. (1999)Data Providers: Arvin Diesmos, Angel Alcala, Rafe Brown, Leticia Afuang, Genevieve Gee, Katie Hampson, Mae Leonida Diesmos,Aldrin Mallari, Perry Ong, Marisol Pedregosa, Dondi Ubaldo, Baldwin GutierrezLimnonectes asperatus (Inger, Boeadi and Taufik, 1996)Limnonectes magnus (Stejneger, 1909)MINDANAO FANGED FROGThis species has been found only in central and southern Kalimantan in Borneo, Indonesia, below 300m asl. It is likely tooccur more widely than current records suggest. There is no information on its population status. It is known only fromthe floor of lowland rainforests, where it is associated with slow-flowing streams in which it is likely to breed by larvaldevelopment. The major threat to this species is habitat loss due to logging. It has not been recorded from any protectedareas. Effective preservation of lowland forest in Kalimantan is essential for the conservation of this species.Bibliography: Inger, R.F., Boeadi and Taufik, A. (1996)Data Providers: Robert Inger, Djoko Iskandar, Indraneil Das, Robert Stuebing, Maklarin Lakim, Paul Yambun, MumpuniLimnonectes blythii (Boulenger, 1920)BLYTH’S RIVER FROGThis species ranges widely in south-east Asia, from Viet Nam and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, to Thailandand Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra, the Anambas Islands and the Natuna Islands (Indonesia). It isalso present on the islands of Phuket, Langkawi, Penang and Tioman. It has not been recorded from the CardamomMountains in Cambodia. It occurs up to 1,200m asl. The population status of this species is locally variable, rangingfrom uncommon in western Thailand to very common in areas where harvesting does not occur in Peninsular Malaysia.It is generally less common in easily accessible areas near human habitation than in similar inaccessible areas,indicative of depleted populations due to harvesting. Cessation of harvesting leads to population recovery in five to10 years (P. van Dijk pers. comm.). It inhabits streams with gravel and boulders in primary and secondary evergreenforest. Males build a nesting hollow in a sandy streambed area, and the larvae develop in streams. The major threatto this species is intensive collection for consumption at subsistence levels, and for local, national and internationaltrade. Some populations have also probably been eliminated locally due to forest clearance. This species inhabitsa great number of protected areas throughout much of its range, and is protected by the Wild Animals Reservationand Protection Act (WARPA), 1992, in Thailand. There is a need to ensure that the harvesting of this species from thewild is managed in a sustainable manner (this species could benefit from commercial farming). Clarification of thetaxonomy of the blythii complex is necessary to identify cryptic species of conservation concern.Taxonomy: This form is undoubtedly a complex of many species.Bibliography: Boulenger, G.A. (1920), Dring, J.C.M. (1979), Frith, D.W. (1977), Inger, R.F. (1966), Inger, R.F. and Stuebing, R.B. (1997),Inger, R.F., Orlov, N. and Darevsky, I.S. (1999), Iskandar, D.T. and Prasetyo, A.H. (1996), Iskandar, D.T. and Setyantyo, D.Y. (1996), Kiew,B.H. (1978), Kiew, B.H. (1984c), Leong, T.M. (2000), Leong, T.M. and Lim, K.K.P. (2003), Leong, T.M., Grismer, L. and Mumpuni (2002), Lim,K.P. and Lim, F.L.K. (1992), Orlov, N.L. (1997a), Smith, M.A. (1930), Stuart, B.L. (1999), Taylor, E.H. (1962)Data Providers: Peter Paul van Dijk, Djoko IskandarLimnonectes dammermani (Mertens, 1927)This species is known only from Lombok, Sumbawa and Flores in the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, where it occursup to at least 1,200m asl. There is little recent information on this species generally due to the lack of research inthe area over the last 30 years. It probably occurs more widely than current records suggest. It is believed to be acommon species. It is thought to live near forested streams like other members of the genus, and the larvae presumablydevelop in streams. There is no information available on threats to this species, although forest loss might be aproblem. It presumably lives in Gunung Rinjani Nature Reserve on Lombok, but there is probably less protection forthe populations on Sumbawa and Flores. Surveys are needed to collect up-to-date information regarding the species’range, population status, habitat requirements, and threats.Bibliography: Iskandar, D.T. and Colijn, E. (2000)Data Providers: Djoko Iskandar, MumpuniLimnonectes ibanorum (Inger, 1964)This species is known only from the central hilly regions of Borneo, below 500m asl. It is likely to occur more widelythan currently recorded. It is considered to be locally abundant. A density of 20-60 individuals per 600m of streamlength was estimated at one site in Sarawak surveyed in 1962-63. It is known only from the banks of clear, rockystreams in hilly lowland primary rainforest. Juveniles and adults do not disperse from the immediate vicinity of suchstreams and the larvae develop in pools along those streams. The main threat to this species is deforestation arisingfrom clear-cutting. As it is quite large, local people often hunt this species for food, and its long life cycle and smallclutch size make it particularly vulnerable to overharvesting. It is present in at least three protected areas, althoughmore effective protection of areas of hilly, lowland rainforest in Sarawak and Kalimantan is needed.Bibliography: Inger, R.F. and Greenberg, B. (1966), Inger, R.F. and Stuebing, R.B. (1997)Data Providers: Robert Inger, Djoko Iskandar, Indraneil Das, Robert Stuebing, Maklarin Lakim, Paul Yambun, MumpuniLimnonectes ingeri (Kiew, 1978)This species has been found at a number of scattered locations in the northern half of Borneo, below 300m asl. Itis likely to occur a little more widely than current records suggest. Its overall population status is unknown, but adensity of 20-50 individuals per 600m of rainforest stream was estimated at one site surveyed. It is usually seenalong slow-flowing, sandy-bottomed or slightly silty streams in primary or disturbed lowland rainforest. It sometimesalso occurs in swampy areas. Adults feed on large prey, including other frogs and small reptiles. Larvae develop inquiet side pools of streams. This species is probably being seriously affected by the extensive logging that is takingplace within much of its range. Localized over-harvesting for food might also be impacting some populations. Thespecies has been recorded from Danum Valley National Park. Survival of this species will depend on the preservationof areas of lowland rainforest.Bibliography: Inger, R.F. and Stuebing, R.B. (1997)Data Providers: Robert Inger, Djoko Iskandar, Indraneil Das, Robert Stuebing, Maklarin Lakim, Paul Yambun, MumpuniLimnonectes macrocephalus (Inger, 1954)LUZON FANGED FROGThis species has been recorded from many localities on Luzon, Catanduanes, Marinduque and Polillo Islands, in thenorthern Philippines. It is common in appropriate habitats, but has declined in places due to over-harvesting. Thisspecies inhabits streams and rivers in lower montane and lowland forests, and is also found in forest edge andagricultural areas near intact natural forests. The major threats to this species include habitat loss, due to expandingagriculture, logging and human settlements, and the pollution of streams and rivers. Harvesting by local peopleThis species complex is found on Mindanao, Basilan, Bohol, Camiguin, Samar and Leyte Islands in the Philippines,from 1,200-1,800m asl, as well as on Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is common to very common where its habitat remainsintact, although some populations are in decline because of over-exploitation. It inhabits undisturbed and disturbedstreams and rivers in lower montane and lowland forests. It breeds and deposits egg clutches in quiet side poolsof forested riverine habitats. On Sulawesi, the major threat to the populations of this species is human exploitationfor both local consumption and international trade. In the Philippines, threats include habitat loss due to agricultureand logging, and pollution of streams and rivers from agricultural pesticides, herbicides, and mine-tailings, as wellas harvesting for human subsistence and for international export. The range of this species includes a few protectedareas. It apparently coexists parapatrically with its sibling species in Lore Lindu National Park, and it extends toPoso and Tanah Toraja. Conservation measures for this species must include the protection of remaining rainforest,especially riverine habitats and gallery forests. Levels of human exploitation need to be investigated to determine ifthis needs to be managed more sustainably.Taxonomy: The use of the name Limnonectes magnus as applied to both Philippine and Sulawesi taxa is a taxonomic arrangement inneed of revision. The Sulawesi populations referred to this species have already been shown to be distinct species based on molecularanalysis, but have not yet been named.Bibliography: Alcala, A.C. and Brown, W.C. (1985), Dubois, A. (1992), Emerson, S.E., Inger, R.F. and Iskandar, D. (2000), Frost, D.R.(1985), Inger, R.F. (1966), Inger, R.F. (1999)Data Providers: Arvin Diesmos, Angel Alcala, Rafe Brown, Leticia Afuang, Genevieve Gee, Djoko IskandarLimnonectes malesianus (Kiew, 1984)MALESIAN FROGThis species is known from extreme southern Peninsular Thailand, peninsular Malaysia (and Sarawak) and Singaporeto Indonesia (including Sumatra and Kalimantan), up to 150m asl. It is likely to occur a little more widely than currentrecords suggest. It is generally not rare, but it is also not an abundant frog (Lim and Lim 1992); it is considered rarein Thailand. It inhabits shallow, gentle streams and nearby swampy areas including peat swamps, very flat alluvialforests (both primary forest and mature secondary growth), and overgrown plantations. The eggs are laid in sandystreambeds but no nest is constructed (Kiew 1984c). The major threat to this species is deforestation. It is also collectedfor subsistence use and trade (Lim and Lim 1992; P. van Dijk pers. comm.), but most collection pressure is deflectedfrom it by the sympatric occurrence of the larger and more common Limnonectes blythii. It occurs in several protectedareas, although more effective conservation of peat swamps and low alluvial rainforests is needed.Taxonomy: This species was previously hidden within the Limnonectes blythii-macrodon complex.Bibliography: Inger, R.F. and Stuebing, R.B. (1997), Kiew, B.H. (1984c), Kiew, B.H. (1990), Leong, T.M. (2000), Leong, T.M. (2001b), Lim,K.P. and Lim, F.L.K. (1992), Manthey, U. and Grossmann, W. (1997)Data Providers: Peter Paul van Dijk, Djoko Iskandar, Robert IngerLimnonectes paramacrodon (Inger, 1966)This species is known from scattered localities in Peninsular Malaysia (Berry 1975; Dring 1979) and Borneo, and ithas been recorded from Singapore (Lim and Lim 1992), southern Thailand (T. Chan-ard pers. comm.) and Natuna Besarand Sumatra, Indonesia. It probably occurs more widely than current records suggest. It occurs at altitudes below200m asl. There is no information on its population status. It generally inhabits lowland swamp forest areas withsmall rivers and streams. Adults are found along clay and gravel stream banks, and breeding takes place in thesestreams. It appears to be able to tolerate selective logging, but does not adapt to more heavily modifi ed habitats. Theprincipal threats to this species are destruction of forests through clear-cutting, conversion to non-timber plantations,urbanization, fire and water extraction. It is present in protected areas in Borneo and the Malay Peninsula (such asPasoh Forest Reserve and Tasek Bera). Effective preservation of the remaining lowland swamp forest is the mainconservation measure recommended for this species.Bibliography: Berry, P.Y. (1975), Dring, J.C.M. (1979), Inger, R.F. and Stuebing, R.B. (1997), Leong, T.M., Grismer, L. and Mumpuni (2002),Lim, K.P. and Lim, F.L.K. (1992), OEPP - Offi ce of Environmental Planning and Policy [of Thailand] (1997)Data Providers: Peter Paul van Dijk, Djoko Iskandar, Robert Inger, Norsham Yaakob, Leong Tzi Ming, Yodchaiy ChuaynkernLimnonectes rhacoda (Inger, Boeadi and Taufik, 1996)This species has been seen at localities in northern and central Kalimantan, Borneo. It is likely to occur more widelythan current records suggest. Its altitudinal range is unclear, but it is believed that this species only occurs below500m asl. There is no information on the current population status of this species. It lives in primary lowland rainforest.Very little is known of the ecology of this species, although it is known to have a very small clutch size, and itpresumably breeds by larval development in water. The greatest threat to this species is presumably deforestation. Itis present in Kayanmantran Protected Area. More effective preservation of areas of lowland rainforest in Kalimantanis essential for the conservation of this species.Bibliography: Inger, R.F., Boeadi and Taufik, A. (1996)Data Providers: Robert Inger, Djoko Iskandar, Indraneil Das, Robert Stuebing, Maklarin Lakim, Paul Yambun, MumpuniLimnonectes tweediei (Smith, 1935)This species is known from Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Trengganu and Pahang States in Peninsular Malaysia, from 200-900m asl (Dring 1979; Berry 1975; Y. Norsham pers. comm.). A population occurring in one tributary in western Sumatra,Indonesia, has been provisionally assigned to this species. Its reported occurrence on Tioman Island, Malaysia, wasprobably based on a misidentification (Leong Tzi Ming pers. comm.). In appropriate habitat in Malaysia this species isfairly common. In Sumatra it is considered to be rare. This species is known from muddy pools in rainforest near smallstreams and seepages in which it makes holes for breeding. It appears not to occur in disturbed areas. The most likelysignificant threats to this species are pollution, and extensive habitat degradation through clear cutting and conversionof forest to plantations. It occurs in Templer’s Park and a number of forest reserves and watershed protection areas(Berry 1975; P. van Dijk pers. comm.; D. Iskandar pers. comm.), but no population appears to be entirely secure. Surveysof existing protected areas might be appropriate, as would improved protection measures to safeguard the ecologicalintegrity of Templer’s Park and the Gombak Valley in Malaysia and Lembah Anai Natural Reserve in Sumatra.Taxonomy: This species is considered by Kiew (1975) to be a synonym of Rana nitida.Bibliography: Berry, P.Y. (1975), Dring, J.C.M. (1979), Grandison, A.C.G. (1972a), Iskandar, D.T. and Setyantyo, D.Y. (1996), Kiew, B.H.(1975), Leong, T.M. and Norsham, Y. (2002)Data Providers: Norsham Yaakob, Leong Tzi Ming, Djoko Iskandar