Arthroleptis nguruensis Poynton, Menegon and Loader, 2008  

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IUCN Red List Assessment:
Red List Category

VU
Vulnerable

Red List Criteria

D2

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2012

Assessor/s

IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group,

Reviewer/s

Hillers, A. & Diesmos, A.C.

Contributor/s

Poynton, J. & Menegon, M.

Justification

Listed as Vulnerable because all individuals are in a single location, and although there are no immediate threats, any future expansion of agricultural and logging activities into its habitat would justify a listing of Critically Endangered. In addition, its extent of occurrence is less than 100 km2.
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/176285

Population:

Population

Currently the population density appears to be high (Poynton et al. 2008), and the species is widespread throughout its small range (M. Menegon pers. comm. November 2010).

Population Trend

Stable
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/176285

Threats:

Major Threats

This species is confined to a single location, which is under threat from timber extraction, clearance and burning for agriculture, cultivation of yams, and understorey clearance for cardamom production. At present these activities are mostly restricted to low elevations within and around the reserve (M. Menegon pers. comm. November 2010), but may in future threaten pristine areas where this species occurs. This is a species of mountain summits, whose inability to migrate to higher altitudes may render it vulnerable to the effects of climate change (Poynton et al. 2008).
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/176285

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions

It is found in a proposed nature reserve, Mkingu Nature Reserve, which comprises the previously named Nguru South and Mkindo Forest Reserves (S. Loader pers. comm. April 2012). Currently, enforcement of this protection is limited (S. Loader pers. comm. June 2011). Monitoring efforts are recommended for this species, and for the endemic Nguru montane amphibian community as a whole (Poynton et al. 2008; M. Menegon pers. comm. November 2010).
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/176285

Range Description:

This species seems to be limited to the Nguru Mountains, part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Individuals were found in the Nguru South Forest Reserve, at elevations between 1,790 - 2,100 m asl. Its estimated extent of occurrence is equal to or less than 86 km2, while the estimated area of occupancy is about 41 km2 (Poynton et al. 2008). It has never been found outside this area or at higher altitudes within the reserve, despite extensive surveys within the Nguru and neighbouring mountains (M. Menegon pers. comm. November 2010).

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/176285

Size:

Male snout-vent lengths reach 52 mm, and females are up to 58mm (Harper et al., 2010).

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorZimkus, Breda, Zimkus, Breda, African Amphibians Lifedesk
Sourcehttp://africanamphibians.lifedesks.org/pages/27768

Diagnostic Description:

This is a large Arthroleptis with a broad head and long legs (tibia greater than ½ SVL). The tympanum is visible and typically has a dark mark above it running from the snout to the arm. This dark band is edged by a thin light stripe above. The lower jaw is white without markings. The throat and chest are dark. Fingertips are slightly expanded, but lack disks. Toe tips are expanded and pointed. Toes lack webbing. Arms and legs have dark bands. Some individuals have light spots on the sides (Text from Harper et al., 2010).

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorZimkus, Breda, Zimkus, Breda, African Amphibians Lifedesk
Sourcehttp://africanamphibians.lifedesks.org/pages/27768

Comparisons:

The continuously white lower jaw of A. nguruensis distinguishes this species from other Arthroleptis species in the Nguru Mountains (Harper et al., 2010).

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorZimkus, Breda, Zimkus, Breda, African Amphibians Lifedesk
Sourcehttp://africanamphibians.lifedesks.org/pages/27768

Habitat and Ecology:

Habitat and Ecology

The species is found in primary montane forest, bamboo and secondary forest including areas bordering agriculture. Individuals can be found in the leaf litter (Poynton et al. 2008). It is presumed to breed by direct development in common with other members of its genus, laying eggs in leaf litter (J. Poynton pers. comm. November 2010).

Systems

  • Terrestrial
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/176285

Habitat and Ecology:

This is a species of montane forest, including bamboo and areas near agriculture, known from elevations between 1790 and 2100 m (Harper et al., 2010).

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorZimkus, Breda, Zimkus, Breda, African Amphibians Lifedesk
Sourcehttp://africanamphibians.lifedesks.org/pages/27768
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith