Ericabatrachus baleensis

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	PYXICEPHALIDAE

Scientific Name:	Ericabatrachus baleensis
Species Authority:	Largen, 1991

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Endangered B1ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2004
Assessor/s:	Malcolm Largen
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, it is known from fewer than five locations, and the extent of its montane forest habitat in the Bale Mountains is declining.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is restricted to the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia, at 2,400-3,200m asl. It has so far been found only in two localities near Katcha, but probably occurs a little more widely.
Countries:	Native: Ethiopia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It seemed to be reasonably numerous at the type locality in 1986. The absence of subsequent records is due to the lack of survey effort.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is known only from giant geath (Erica arborea) woodland and adjoining Schefflera-Hagenia forest, where it is found on the grassy banks of small, fast-flowing streams. The breeding behaviour is unknown, but female specimens contain large and unpigmented ova. The presence of such eggs is generally considered to be indicative of either direct development or at least a terrestrial nest. If true in this case, the eggs are most likely to be deposited amongst herbaceous vegetation on the banks of small, swift-flowing streams, which is the habitat where fully mature females have been found.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

It is known only from giant geath (Erica arborea) woodland and adjoining Schefflera-Hagenia forest, where it is found on the grassy banks of small, fast-flowing streams. The breeding behaviour is unknown, but female specimens contain large and unpigmented ova. The presence of such eggs is generally considered to be indicative of either direct development or at least a terrestrial nest. If true in this case, the eggs are most likely to be deposited amongst herbaceous vegetation on the banks of small, swift-flowing streams, which is the habitat where fully mature females have been found.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Direct damage to the narrow belt of giant heath (with which this animal is most closely associated), by either humans or their livestock, does not seem very likely in the foreseeable future, but could be disastrous if it did occur. A more worrying threat is the possibility of logging in contiguous tall Schefflera-Hagenia forests at slightly lower elevations.

Major Threat(s):

Direct damage to the narrow belt of giant heath (with which this animal is most closely associated), by either humans or their livestock, does not seem very likely in the foreseeable future, but could be disastrous if it did occur. A more worrying threat is the possibility of logging in contiguous tall Schefflera-Hagenia forests at slightly lower elevations.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It occurs in Bale Mountains National Park, although this protected area has not yet been formally gazetted. Conservation of Erica woodland and high-altitude forest throughout the Bale Mountains is a priority. Clearly, there is an urgent need for further survey work to determine the current population status of this species, and to determine whether it might occur more widely than currently known.

Conservation Actions:

It occurs in Bale Mountains National Park, although this protected area has not yet been formally gazetted. Conservation of Erica woodland and high-altitude forest throughout the Bale Mountains is a priority. Clearly, there is an urgent need for further survey work to determine the current population status of this species, and to determine whether it might occur more widely than currently known.

Citation:	Malcolm Largen 2004. Ericabatrachus baleensis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2013.
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