Breviceps sylvestris

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AMPHIBIA	ANURA	BREVICIPITIDAE

Scientific Name:

Breviceps sylvestris

Species Authority:

FitzSimons, 1930

Common Name/s:

English

–

Forest Rain Frog

Taxonomic Notes:

There are questions regarding the validity of two subspecies: Breviceps sylvestris sylvestris and B. s. taeniatus.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B2ab(ii,iii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

South African Frog Re-assessment Group (SA-FRoG), IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group,

Reviewer/s:

Angulo, A. & Cox, N.A.

Contributor/s:

Channing, A., Turner, A., de Villiers, A., Harvey, J., Tarrant, J., Measey, J., Tolley, K., Minter, L., du Preez, L., Burger, M., Cunningham, M. & Davies, S.

Justification:
Listed as Endangered as its Area of Occupancy is estimated as 101 km², it is considered to have a severely fragmented distribution, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.

History:

2004

–

Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to the Limpopo Province of north-eastern South Africa, where it occurs in two disjunct subpopulations: Breviceps s. sylvestris occurs along the eastern escarpment; and B. s. taeniatus occurs in the Soutpansberg Mountains. The Extent of Occurrence is 11,700 km², but the Area of Occupancy of the two subpopulations is thought to be only 101 km². The two subspecies are thought to be isolated by about 80 km of unsuitable habitat. It is a highland species, occurring between 800 and 1,800 m asl.
Countries:	Native: South Africa (Limpopo Province)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is locally common to abundant. Its distribution is considered to be severely fragmented (i.e. more than half of the total number of individuals are in isolated patches).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It breeds in natural forests, grassy forest fringes, and adjacent open grassland and gardens, but never far from forest. Individuals have also been found in plantations. Nests have been found under stones with the female in attendance. It breeds by development occurring directly in subterranean nests.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The main threats are loss of habitat due to afforestation, fire, fruit plantations, and subsistence agriculture, and to a lesser extent housing.

Major Threat(s):

The main threats are loss of habitat due to afforestation, fire, fruit plantations, and subsistence agriculture, and to a lesser extent housing.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Resolving taxonomic issues, identifying management units, biology and threats are seen as key priority research areas for this species. Additional policy is required in terms of agreements with commercial land owners. Of the threats, it is important to invest effort into how this species can best co-occur with developing agriculture. Once population sizes have been established, monitoring of populations and habitat should be put in place. It occurs in several protected areas, including Blouberg Nature Reserve, Thabina Nature Reserve, and the Wolkberg Wilderness Area.

Conservation Actions:

Resolving taxonomic issues, identifying management units, biology and threats are seen as key priority research areas for this species. Additional policy is required in terms of agreements with commercial land owners. Of the threats, it is important to invest effort into how this species can best co-occur with developing agriculture. Once population sizes have been established, monitoring of populations and habitat should be put in place. It occurs in several protected areas, including Blouberg Nature Reserve, Thabina Nature Reserve, and the Wolkberg Wilderness Area.

Citation:	South African Frog Re-assessment Group (SA-FRoG), IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 2010. Breviceps sylvestris. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2013.
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