Nectophrynoides vestergaardi
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
AMPHIBIA |
ANURA |
BUFONIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Nectophrynoides vestergaardi |
| Species Authority: |
Menegon, Salvidio & Loader, 2004 |
Assessment Information
[top]
| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Endangered
B1ab(iii)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2004 |
| Assessor/s: |
Michele Menegon, Simon Loader |
| Reviewer/s: |
Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson and Neil Cox) |
| Contributor/s: |
|
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 extent and quality of its habitat in the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania.
|
Geographic Range
[top]
| Range Description: |
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. |
| Countries: |
Native: Tanzania, United Republic of |
| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population
[top]
| 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.
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
[top]
| 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.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
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 Actions
[top]
| Conservation Actions: |
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. It is listed on CITES Appendix I.
|
