Scaphiophryne gottlebei

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	MICROHYLIDAE

Scientific Name:	Scaphiophryne gottlebei
Species Authority:	Busse and Böhme, 1992

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Franco Andreone, Christopher Raxworthy, Frank Glaw

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, all individuals are in fewer than five locations, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat around Isalo, and it is possibly subject to over-collecting for the pet trade leading to a decline in the number of mature individuals.

History:

2004

–

Critically Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is restricted to a few areas within the northern postion of the Isalo Massif (at 700-1,000m) near Isalo (in the Province of Fianarantsoa) in south-western Madagascar. Recent surveys have shown it to occur a little more widely than was previously thought, from Amparambatomavo south to Lola (F. Andreone pers. comm.).
Countries:	Native: Madagascar
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It appears to be locally abundant in the humid canyons.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found in open, rocky areas, generally in dry forest, and in more humid vegetation in canyons. It is partly rupicolous and able to climb vertical walls within the narrow canyons of the Isalo Massif. Andreone et al. (2006) note that the species is largely fossorial and specialised to live within the narrow and wet canyons of the Isalo Massif, and has a high dispersal capability (most likely during storms in the rainy season). Breeding is presumed to take place in shallow, temporary pools.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

It is found in open, rocky areas, generally in dry forest, and in more humid vegetation in canyons. It is partly rupicolous and able to climb vertical walls within the narrow canyons of the Isalo Massif. Andreone et al. (2006) note that the species is largely fossorial and specialised to live within the narrow and wet canyons of the Isalo Massif, and has a high dispersal capability (most likely during storms in the rainy season). Breeding is presumed to take place in shallow, temporary pools.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Over-collection for the international pet trade could be a significant threat to this restricted-range species, and it is still commonly recorded in international trade (the high level of mortality among captive animals might be contributing to the high level of trade). Its habitat might also be at risk from fire, wood extraction, overgrazing by livestock, and recent sapphire mining activities in areas adjacent to the species' known range. Disturbance by tourists within the range of the species are reported to have increased, but the impacts of this are unclear.

Major Threat(s):

Over-collection for the international pet trade could be a significant threat to this restricted-range species, and it is still commonly recorded in international trade (the high level of mortality among captive animals might be contributing to the high level of trade). Its habitat might also be at risk from fire, wood extraction, overgrazing by livestock, and recent sapphire mining activities in areas adjacent to the species' known range. Disturbance by tourists within the range of the species are reported to have increased, but the impacts of this are unclear.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It occurs in Parque Nacional de Isalo. It is listed on CITES Appendix II. Controlled, sustainable trade of this species is required, possibly involving a trade quota. Additional studies are needed to determine if this species is suitable for commercial captive-breeding operations (see Mattioli et al. 2006).

Conservation Actions:

It occurs in Parque Nacional de Isalo. It is listed on CITES Appendix II. Controlled, sustainable trade of this species is required, possibly involving a trade quota. Additional studies are needed to determine if this species is suitable for commercial captive-breeding operations (see Mattioli et al. 2006).

Citation:	Franco Andreone, Christopher Raxworthy, Frank Glaw 2008. Scaphiophryne gottlebei. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2013.
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