Cacosternum nanum

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	PYXICEPHALIDAE

Scientific Name:

Cacosternum nanum

Species Authority:

Boulenger, 1887

Common Name/s:

English

–

Bronze Caco, Bronze Dainty Frog

Taxonomic Notes:

We follow Scott (in press) in considering the subspecies, Cacosternum nanum parvum, as a distinct species. Specimens from north-eastern Kwa-Zulu Natal have been found which have a different call, and might represent another undescribed species (E. Scott, unpublished data).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2004
Assessor/s:	Alan Channing, Leslie Minter, Elizabeth Scott
Reviewer/s:	Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson and Neil Cox)
Justification: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species ranges from Swellendam in the Western Cape Province in South Africa, east and north to the Tugela River basin in KwaZulu-Natal, and the lowlands of southern Swaziland. It is absent from higher altitudes along the Mpumalanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal escarpment, where it is replaced by its sister-taxon, Cacosternum parvum. It occurs up to at least 1,400m asl, perhaps higher. Records from Mozambique require clarification (E. Scott pers. comm.).
Countries:	Native: South Africa; Swaziland Presence uncertain: Lesotho; Mozambique
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is one of the commonest frogs in its range, and can be heard calling from almost every substantial rut, drainage ditch and puddle in the wet season.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits a wide variety of vegetation types, including fynbos heath land, savannah, shrubland, grassland, farmland, plantations, rural grassland, degraded forest and urban areas, occurring in areas of relatively high rainfall. It breeds in vleis and deeper pools in open wooded grassland areas, in thick reed beds, and in dense grassy verges of ponds. Its habitat preferences are generally more restrictive than those of Cacosternum boettgeri. During dry periods, these frogs aestivate below the surface, or under logs and stones, sometimes emerging in large numbers after heavy rain.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits a wide variety of vegetation types, including fynbos heath land, savannah, shrubland, grassland, farmland, plantations, rural grassland, degraded forest and urban areas, occurring in areas of relatively high rainfall. It breeds in vleis and deeper pools in open wooded grassland areas, in thick reed beds, and in dense grassy verges of ponds. Its habitat preferences are generally more restrictive than those of Cacosternum boettgeri. During dry periods, these frogs aestivate below the surface, or under logs and stones, sometimes emerging in large numbers after heavy rain.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is an adaptable species and it appears not to be threatened.

Major Threat(s):

It is an adaptable species and it appears not to be threatened.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It occurs in many protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

It occurs in many protected areas.

Bibliography [top]

	Channing, A. 2001. Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London. IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004. Lambiris, A.J.L. 1989. A review of the amphibians of Natal. Lammergeyer 39: 1-210. Minter, L.R., Burger, M., Harrison, J.A., Braack, H.H., Bishop, P.J. and Knoepfer, D. 2004. Atlas and Red Data Book of the Frogs of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. SI/MAB Series No. 9, Washington, D.C. Passmore, N.I. and Carruthers, V.C. 1995. South African Frogs, 2nd Edition. Southern Book Publishers and Witwatersrand University Press, Johannesburg. Pickersgill, M. 2007. Frog Search. Results of Expeditions to Southern and Eastern Africa. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main. Poynton, J.C. 1964. The amphibia of southern Africa: a faunal study. Annals of the Natal Museum 17: 1-334. Poynton, J.C. and Broadley, D.G. 1985. Amphibia Zambesiaca. 2. Ranidae. Annals of the Natal Museum: 115-181. van Dijk, D.E. 1971. Anuran ecology in relation particularly to oviposition and development out of water. Zoologica Africana: 119-132. Wager, V.A. 1986. Frogs of South Africa, 2nd edition. Delta Books, Craighall.

Channing, A. 2001. Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London.

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

Lambiris, A.J.L. 1989. A review of the amphibians of Natal. Lammergeyer 39: 1-210.

Minter, L.R., Burger, M., Harrison, J.A., Braack, H.H., Bishop, P.J. and Knoepfer, D. 2004. Atlas and Red Data Book of the Frogs of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. SI/MAB Series No. 9, Washington, D.C.

Passmore, N.I. and Carruthers, V.C. 1995. South African Frogs, 2nd Edition. Southern Book Publishers and Witwatersrand University Press, Johannesburg.

Pickersgill, M. 2007. Frog Search. Results of Expeditions to Southern and Eastern Africa. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main.

Poynton, J.C. 1964. The amphibia of southern Africa: a faunal study. Annals of the Natal Museum 17: 1-334.

Poynton, J.C. and Broadley, D.G. 1985. Amphibia Zambesiaca. 2. Ranidae. Annals of the Natal Museum: 115-181.

van Dijk, D.E. 1971. Anuran ecology in relation particularly to oviposition and development out of water. Zoologica Africana: 119-132.

Wager, V.A. 1986. Frogs of South Africa, 2nd edition. Delta Books, Craighall.

Citation:	Alan Channing, Leslie Minter, Elizabeth Scott 2004. Cacosternum nanum. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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