Platymantis vitianus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AMPHIBIA	ANURA	CERATOBATRACHIDAE

Scientific Name:

Platymantis vitianus

Species Authority:

(Duméril, 1853)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Fiji Ground Frog

Synonym/s:

Platymantis vitiana (Dumeril, 1853)

Platymantis vitiana (Duméril, 1853)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2004

Assessor/s:

George Zug, Dick Watling, Clare Morrison

Reviewer/s:

Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson and Neil Cox)

Justification:
Listed as Endangered because its Extent of Occurrence is less than 5,000 km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the number of mature individuals in Fiji.

History:

1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Insufficiently Known (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Insufficiently Known (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Insufficiently Known (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species once occurred widely in Fiji, but is now restricted to the mongoose-free islands of Ovalau, Gau, Taveuni, and Viwa. It used to occur on the two large islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, and on Bequa, but it is now extinct there. The last, unconfirmed, record from Vanua Levu was from the 1960s, when it was reported as part of the diet of mongooses in the Nadarivatu (Monosavu) area.
Countries:	Native: Fiji
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It occurs widely, but in small numbers, on Ovalau, Viwa, and Gau, and is fairly common on Taveuni.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Although presumably originally a forest species, it is also found in anthropogenic habitats, including degraded forest, rural gardens, plantations, and even close to the beach. It is terrestrial and breeds by direct development, although the eggs are very hard to find.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Introduced mongooses, released in 1883, caused a major decline, much of this having taken place by the early 20th century. It now survives only on mongoose-free islands. Mongooses are the only predators known to wipe the species out completely. It might also be impacted by introduced Rattus praetor and Rattus exulans, which arrived in Fiji some 2,500-3,000 years ago, as well as by Bufo marinus and introduced cats, but it is known to co-exist with all of these (on the small island of Viwa it has co-existed with B. marinus for over 30 years).

Major Threat(s):

Introduced mongooses, released in 1883, caused a major decline, much of this having taken place by the early 20th century. It now survives only on mongoose-free islands. Mongooses are the only predators known to wipe the species out completely. It might also be impacted by introduced Rattus praetor and Rattus exulans, which arrived in Fiji some 2,500-3,000 years ago, as well as by Bufo marinus and introduced cats, but it is known to co-exist with all of these (on the small island of Viwa it has co-existed with B. marinus for over 30 years).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The most important conservation measure is the prevention of the spread of mongooses to islands where the species still survives. It occurs in the Ravilevu Nature Reserve and Bouma Natural Heritage Park, both on Taveuni, but neither of these actively protects wildlife.

Conservation Actions:

The most important conservation measure is the prevention of the spread of mongooses to islands where the species still survives. It occurs in the Ravilevu Nature Reserve and Bouma Natural Heritage Park, both on Taveuni, but neither of these actively protects wildlife.

Bibliography [top]

	Gorham, S.W. 1965. Fiji frogs (with synopses of the genera Cornufer and Platymantis). Zoologische Beitraege: 381-435. Gorham, S.W. 1968. Fiji frogs. Life history data from field work. Zoologische Beitraege: 427-446. Gorham, S.W. 1971. Field identification of Fiji frogs. Fiji Agricultural Journal: 31-33. IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004. Ryan, P. 1985. A coastal habitat for the Fiji ground frog and a first record from Gau Island. Herpetological Review: 72. Ryan, P. 2000. Fiji's Natural Heritage, 2nd edition. Exisle Publishing, Ltd. Auckland. Watling, D. and Zug, G.R. 1998. Annotated list and conservation status of Fijian terrestrial reptiles and amphibians. Fiji Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, Environmental Consultants (Fiji) Ltd, Suva. Zug, G.R. 1983. Natural history notes on the Fijian ground frog (Ranidae: Platymantis vitianus). Herpetological Review: 68-69.

Gorham, S.W. 1965. Fiji frogs (with synopses of the genera Cornufer and Platymantis). Zoologische Beitraege: 381-435.

Gorham, S.W. 1968. Fiji frogs. Life history data from field work. Zoologische Beitraege: 427-446.

Gorham, S.W. 1971. Field identification of Fiji frogs. Fiji Agricultural Journal: 31-33.

IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004.

Ryan, P. 1985. A coastal habitat for the Fiji ground frog and a first record from Gau Island. Herpetological Review: 72.

Ryan, P. 2000. Fiji's Natural Heritage, 2nd edition. Exisle Publishing, Ltd. Auckland.

Watling, D. and Zug, G.R. 1998. Annotated list and conservation status of Fijian terrestrial reptiles and amphibians. Fiji Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, Environmental Consultants (Fiji) Ltd, Suva.

Zug, G.R. 1983. Natural history notes on the Fijian ground frog (Ranidae: Platymantis vitianus). Herpetological Review: 68-69.

Citation:	George Zug, Dick Watling, Clare Morrison 2004. Platymantis vitianus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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