The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ISSN 2307-8235 (online) IUCN 2008: T54723A77159333 Scope: Global Language: English Sclerophrys pantherina, Western Leopard Toad Assessment by: IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group & South African Frog Re- assessment Group (SA-FRoG) View on www.iucnredlist.org Citation: IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group & South African Frog Re-assessment Group (SA- FRoG). 2016. Sclerophrys pantherina. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T54723A77159333. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T54723A77159333.en Copyright: © 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. 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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™ Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Animalia Chordata Amphibia Anura Bufonidae Taxon Name: Sclerophrys pantherina (Smith, 1828) Synonym(s): • Amietophrynus pantherinus (Smith, 1828) • Bufo pantherinus Smith, 1828 Common Name(s): • English: Western Leopard Toad, Panther Toad, Southern Panther Toad Taxonomic Source(s): Frost, D.R. 2016. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 (31 March 2016). New York, USA. Available at: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html. Taxonomic Notes: Reports of this species occurring between Agulhas and Wilderness, the westernmost record of Sclerophrys pardalis (Minter et al. 2004) remain unconfirmed. This species was under the generic name Amietophrynus but is now treated under Sclerophrys (Frost 2016). Assessment Information Red List Category & Criteria: Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iii,iv) ver 3.1 Year Published: 2016 Date Assessed: August 2, 2016 Justification: Listed as Endangered because of its extent of occurrence of 3,824 km2, its area of occupancy is 405 km2, its population considered to be severely fragmented, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat and area of occupancy due to increased urbanisation and agricultural expansion throughout its range. Previously Published Red List Assessments 2010 – Endangered (EN) – http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T54723A11194255.en 2004 – Endangered (EN) Geographic Range Range Description: © The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sclerophrys pantherina – published in 2016. 1 http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T54723A77159333.en This species is known only from the Western Cape Province in South Africa, ranging from the Cape Peninsula eastward to the westernmost part of Agulhas National Park. The southern-most known sites are Fish Hoek valley and Kommetjie (A. Rebelo pers. comm. August 2016). It is only known to breed at low elevations, within 25 km of the sea, but adults have been found ranging in the mountains up to 500 m asl. It is known from more than 10 threat-defined locations, its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 3,824 km2, and its area of occupancy (405 km2) is continually being reduced by ongoing development and habitat loss within the City of Cape Town and Overstrand. Subpopulations from the City of Cape Town have been shown to be genetically distinct from those in the eastern area of this species' distribution and their disjunction is not believed to have been caused by anthropogenic effects. There are no recent records of this species from the central parts of its distribution, including Kleinmond, Betty's Bay and Pringle Bay, where it is now thought to be extinct (Measey and Tolley 2011). Country Occurrence: Native: South Africa (Western Cape) © The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sclerophrys pantherina – published in 2016. 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T54723A77159333.en Distribution Map Sclerophrys pantherina © The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sclerophrys pantherina – published in 2016. 3 http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T54723A77159333.en Population It is locally common and easily seen during breeding in August. Within the last 20 years it has undergone drastic declines from urban areas where it was once abundant, although no quantitative data are available. Collection of quantitative data is ongoing with which it is hoped to provide population data in the future. There is a historic record (1980) from the edge of Cape Point Natural Reserve at Klaarsjagersberg, however the species is possibly extinct at this location. There have been no records in the last 20-30 years, however this could be due to the lack of surveys effort focused in the area (A. Rebelo pers. comm. August 2016). The population is considered to be severely fragmented because no one site holds >50% of individuals and the distances between subpopulations are considered to be too great for dispersal within one generation. More than half of the occupied habitat is in small and isolated patches and >50% of subpopulations are considered non-viable without continued conservation. Current Population Trend: Unknown Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information) Within the Cape Metropolitan area, the sites this species inhabits are almost entirely urbanised, while east of the Cape Flats the habitat is far less disturbed (Measey and Tolley 2011). It forages in fynbos heathland, farmland, suburban gardens, and urban open areas, although always in close proximity to freshwater habitats. Mass breeding events take place annually, during July–September, in large wetlands, vleis, dams, and sluggish water in lowland fynbos heathland, as well as, in altered habitats with permanent waterbodies, and occasionally temporary waterbodies that retain water well into summer. They are known to breed in the same water bodies each year and once breeding is completed, they return to their foraging areas, many of which are private gardens within a 2 km radius of breeding sites (Measey et al. 2014). Females have been reported to lay nearly 25,000 eggs. There is an ongoing decline in the quantity and quality of suitable habitat for both foraging and breeding. Systems: Terrestrial, Freshwater Use and Trade There are no reports of this species being utilized. Threats (see Appendix for additional information) Although it is tolerant of habitat alteration, it is being negatively impacted by increased urbanisation and agricultural expansion in its entire range. Road kills, urban design, alien vegetation and introduced fish are all thought to be important factors. Even in areas with active conservation from citizen scientists, large numbers of toads (average of 20.47% of 2,384 toads over six breeding seasons) are still being killed on peri-urban roads (Kruger 2014). Within the Cape Metropolitan area, the sites this species inhabits are surrounded by canalised rivers and channels, major roads and residential dwellings, while the habitat is far less disturbed east of the Cape Flats, although even this area has undergone considerable urbanisation and agricultural expansion in the last 20 years (Measey and Tolley 2011). A recent introduction and rapid expansion of Sclerophrys gutturalis into the City of Cape Town poses threats of competition for breeding habitat (Measey et al. 2014). This species is known to test positive for the © The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sclerophrys pantherina – published in 2016. 4 http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T54723A77159333.en amphibian chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, albeit low infection intensity and prevalence (Tarrant et al. 2013). Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information) Conservation Actions It occurs on the western fringe of Agulhas National Park, Table Mountain National Park, as well as in various City of Cape Town reserves. It is legally protected by the Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 19 of 1974, and from certain environmental threats by the National Environmental Management Act No. 22 of 2009 (NEMA). In 2008, the CAPE Invasive Alien Animal Working Group (CAPE-IAA) launched a campaign to eradicate Sclerophrys gutturalis from the Western Cape (Measey et al. 2014), however the ongoing work is challenging, as almost all of the breeding sites are garden ponds on private property in a low density, high income residential area (Measey and Davies 2011). The Western Leopard Toad Conservation Committee (WLT-CC) is a multi-stakeholder group (including volunteer groups, SANParks, City of Cape Town, CapeNature and SANBI) which overseas the conservation of this species (Turner et al. 2011). Conservation Needed A Biodiversity Management Plan (under NEMBA) is required to underpin Memoranda of Understanding between multiple stakeholders. A concerted effort is needed in Agulhas