Pyxicephalus adspersus byTim Halliday ISSN 1026-0269 FROGLOG Newsletter of the IUCN /SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) February 2007, Number 79 to cause mass mortality. Kevin but is under continuous threat from Amphibian Declines in Africa Smith reported studies of stream a variety of factors, including water By Tim Halliday frogs in the Drakensburg extraction and climate change. The 8th meeting of the where mortality does occur, at Because its tadpoles take more Herpetological Association of higher altitudes, in Strongylopus than a year to reach metamorpho- Africa (HAA) was held in hymenopus, but the impact of this sis, it is very dependent on Potchefstroom, South Africa from on populations is not yet clear. perennial streams. John Measey 24 to 27 November, 2006. The He also reported that chytrid- described his work on the meeting, sponsored by the DAPTF, infected tadpoles of Heleophryne landscape genetics of the Kenyan was organised by Louis du Preez. natalensis develop distinctive frog Schoutedenella xenodacty- It provided a very interesting markings around their mouthparts; loides which, surprisingly, suggests overview of work on amphibians no mass mortality in this species that this tiny frog can disperse long currently going on in southern has been observed. distances across unsuitable dry Africa, including a number of The African bullfrog savannah. projects funded by the DAPTF. Pyxicephalus adspersus is Ernst Baard reported on recent In a workshop on amphibian threatened by accelerating habitat changes in legislation and policy in declines, Les Minter reviewed the loss in many parts of its range; South Africa with regard to status of southern African while many breeding sites are protected, threatened, alien and amphibians; 20 endemic species protected, less attention has been invasive species, and was are endangered, and habitat paid to its terrestrial habitat. Using optimistic that these will open the degradation threatens more radio-telemetry, Caroline Yetman, way to more effective conservation species than any other factor. Ché has found that females disperse of amphibians. Following the Weldon summarised recent further from breeding sites than meeting, I visited the impressive information about chytridiomycosis males, suggesting that loss of new amphibian breeding facility at in Africa. The disease is terrestrial habitat may threaten Johannesburg Zoo, which is widespread in southern and east females more than males. James starting its work by developing Africa but does not appear to have Harvey, working on the techniques to keep and breed caused mass mortality events. critically endangered moss frog frogs, using five common South Kevin Smith discussed different Arthroleptella ngongoniensis, has African species. located several new populations, methods for monitoring amphibians An update on the revealing that its habitat and suggested that determining amphibian requirements are not as occupancy over a large area richness of Gabon constrained as was previously provides more useful data than and its thought. intensive monitoring of individual representation in The endangered leopard toad sites. James Harrison presented national parks plans for the next stage in the Bufo pantherinus has a very development of the Southern restricted range that is seriously By: Olivier S.G. Pauwels and Africa Frog Atlas. threatened by human develop- Mark-Oliver Rödel During the main ment. It disperses more than 500 The Equatorial area between symposium, several talks dealt m from breeding sites and very Cameroon and Congo has long with amphibian decline issues. Ché large numbers are killed on roads. been neglected by amphibian Weldon reported a survey of frogs The long-term survival of this researchers. Nevertheless, the in Madagascar that suggests that species depends on improving amphibian fauna of Gabon greatly chytridiomycosis is absent from both town planning and public benefitted from a series of the island, but warned awareness. Atherton de Villiers intensive field studies within the that Madagascan frogs are reported on the continuing long- last decade, which provided probably highly susceptible to the term monitoring of the Table information on amphibian richness disease, should it be introduced. Mountain ghost frog Heleophryne and the description of several new Chytridiomycosis is endemic in rosei. This very restricted taxa. These recently described southern Africa, but seems rarely population is reasonably stable, species are: the astylosternids Leptodactylodon blanci (the first 1 record of this genus from Gabon) from five. Among the surveyed fauna of the Gamba Complex of and L. stevarti, the bufonid national parks, Moukalaba-Doudou Protected Areas, Gabon. Pp. 297- Werneria iboundji (the only contains 57 described species and 308 in: Alonso, A., Lee, M.E., representative of this genus from 13 species of unresolved Campbell, P., Pauwels, O.S.G. & Gabon) and the hyperoliid taxonomic status. Dallmeier, F. (eds). Gamba, Leptopelis crystallinoron (see Priority actions for amphiban Gabon: biodiversité d’une forêt Ohler, 1999; Burger et al., 2005; conservation in Gabon should équatoriale africaine / Gamba, Lötters et al., 2005; Rödel & include (1) verfiying the presence Gabon: biodiversity of an Pauwels, 2003; Rödel et al., 2004). of all species not yet recorded equatorial African rainforest. A number of other additions to (especially the three endemic Bulletin of the Biological Society of Gabon’s amphibian fauna were species) in protected areas, by Washington, Washington 12. also made during the same period, finding them in national parks or by Frétey, T. & Blanc, C.P. 2000. Les increasing the national species list creating biodiversity sanctuaries amphibiens d’Afrique centrale. from 72 (the number given in the that contain viable populations; (2) Liste faunistique. ADIE, Libreville, first comprehensive list published inventory and explore sites of 40 pp. for the country by Frétey & Blanc, special interest (such as Lötters, S., Rödel, M.-O. & Burger, 2000) to 88 species. However, a inselbergs, caves, waterfalls) M. 2005. A new large tree frog dozen new species records still outside the national parks to detect from north-western Gabon require taxonomic investigations populations and species of (Hyperoliidae: Leptopelis). (see details in Pauwels & Rödel, possible conservation concern; (3) Herpetological Journal 15: 149- 2006) as some of them might document possible short-term and 152. represent new taxa. The recent long-term conservation threats in Ohler, A. 1999. Une nouvelle surveys were conducted at Crystal, each of Gabon’s national parks. espèce du genre Leptodactylodon Loango, Lopé and Moukalaba- Currently, Gabon is trying (Arthroleptidae,Astylosterninae) du Doudou National Parks and to diversify its economy, Gabon. Alytes 17: 73-80. surrounding areas; Ivindo National predominantly based on oil and Park was surveyed in the logging industries, alternatives like Pauwels, O.S.G. & Rödel, M.-O. seventies. Eight national parks in ecotourism are highly encouraged, 2006. Amphibians and national Gabon remain data deficient. and good species lists for parks parks in Gabon, western Central Africa. Herpetozoa 19 (in press). Detailed lists for the surveyed and herp viewing are a possible parks were provided by Burger et ecotouristic product. Rödel, M.-O. & Pauwels, O.S.G. al. (2006) and Pauwels & Rödel For more information, please see 2003. A new Leptodactylodon (2006). the full report by Pauwels & Rödel species from Gabon (Amphibia: Of the 88 species currently (2006) or contact Olivier S.G. Anura:Astylosternidae). Salamandra 39: 139-148. recorded from Gabon, 76 (86.4%) Pauwels at [email protected]. are known from at least one Acknowledgements Rödel, M.-O., Schmitz, A., Gabonese national park, including OSGP’s research is supported Pauwels, O.S.G. & Böhme, W. all near endemics (sensu by the Smithsonian Institution / 2004. Revision of the genus Anderson, 2002), but only three Monitoring and Assessment of Werneria Poche, 1903, including (50%) of the endemics. Werneria Biodiversity Program and grants the descriptions of two iboundji (known from a single from Shell Foundation and Shell new species from Cameroon waterfall on Mount Iboundji in the Gabon. This publication is and Gabon (Amphibia: Anura: heart of the Massif du Chaillu, Bufonidae). Zootaxa 720: 1-28. contribution 82 of the Gabon south of Lopé National Park), Biodiversity Program. The protection of Phrynobatrachus ogoensis and References threatened Hymenochirus feae are still yet to Anderson, S. 2002. Identifying amphibians be found in a national park. important plant areas. Annual In Colombia Amphibian records are also Review of Plantlife International available for only one additional 2002: 1-52. The Central Cordillera of Colombia is a 650 km-long mountain range national park, namely Pongara, Burger, M., Pauwels, O.S.G., that spurs northwards from the with a single species record Branch, W.R., Lötters, S. & Rödel, bifurcation of the northern Andes. (Arthroleptis variabilis). Thus, for M.-O. 2005. The Amphibia of Its diverse topography, broad seven of the 13 national parks of Gabon: still a time for great altitudinal span and great climatic Gabon, not a single species record discoveries. Pp. 123-124 in: variations support a wide variety of is currently available. Abstracts of the Fifth World ecosystems and associated high A huge number of Congress of Herpetology, 19-24 levels of endemism. Topographi- mountain peaks, caves, waterfalls, June 2005, Stellenbosch, South cal