Thorius narisovalis by John Wilkinson ISSN 1026-0269 FROGLOG Newsletter of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force October 2001, Number 47. criterion for these awards is that the DAPTF SEED GRANTS 2002 proposed work should be done on Endangered speciesorissuesofconcerninthe Chinhai We are pleased to announce a new USA. ARMI is particularly interested in Salamander round of Seed Grants for 2002. These funding research on potential Colonising are intended as one-time awards of stressors of amphibian populations. Newly Created between $500 and $2000 for the For more information about ARMI, go Breeding support or initiation of research that to: Habitat furthers the DAPTF's mission to http://bbs-pwrc.er.usgs.gov/armi/in determine the nature, extent and dex.cfm (3) UNRESTRICTED By Max Sparreboom, Xie Feng causes of amphibian population &FeiLiang declines. There are three categories in AWARDS. The DAPTF welcomes this year's round, reflecting generous applications that address any aspect The Chinhai Salamander (Echinotriton financial support from Conservation of amphibian declines, but favours chinhaiensis) has a very limited International (CI) and the U.S. joint applications that involve a distribution area, living in hilly, Department of the Interior's Amphibian partnership between herpetologists in forested habitat east of the city of Research and Monitoring Initiative developed and developing countries. Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. The (ARMI). We will accept applications in Applicants should indicate which of salamander is completely terrestrial, Spanish, Portuguese and French, as the above categories they have in laying eggs on land, close to ponds. well as English. mind, but we are likely to consider Hatching larvae are washed into the (1) CI AWARDS. The criteria applicants in categories (1) and (2) pond where they develop. for these awards are: (a) the proposed also under category (3). Do not Only three populations are work would be undertaken in one of hesitate to contact Tim Halliday if you presently known: the type locality in the biodiversity hotspots and need clarification or advice. Chengwan, where the species was wilderness areas identified by CI Proposals of no more than 4 discovered by Chang in 1932, one (California Floristic Province, pages should be addressed to Tim population in Ruiyansi forest park, and Caribbean, Mesoamerica, Choco/ Halliday, DAPTF International a recently discovered site in Qiushan. Darien/western Ecuador, tropical Director, at the address on the back of The pond of the type locality is still Andes, Brazilian Cerrado Atlantic this Froglog or by e-mail on there, but over the past 20 years the Forest, central Chile, Amazon Basin, [email protected] species has been observed only Mediterranean, Caucasus, Guinean Proposals should contain: (1) incidentally. No salamanders were forests of West Africa, Congo Basin, Name, affiliation and contact found in 1999. The site in Qiushan Eastern Arc Mountains and coastal information of proposer(s), (2) Project was discovered during a vertebrate forests of Tanzania and Kenya, Cape title, (3) Description of the intended survey in April 1999, organised by the Floristic Region, Succulent Karoo, work, including localities and species Zhejiang Museum of Natural History in Madagascar and Indian Ocean involved, (4) Start date and schedule Hangzhou. It consists of a small Islands, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, of the project, (5) Explanation of how puddle, overgrown with dense Indo-Burma, mountains of south- the project will further the DAPTF's vegetation. On the edge of this small central China, Phillipines, Sundaland, mission, (6) Budget breakdown, pond (1 x 2 m), two females were Wallacea, New Guinea, northeast including details of additional funding found. On the slopes of three Australia, southeast Australia, New obtained or sought from elsewhere neighbouring ponds at the Ruiyansi Zealand); (b) the project should (Note that we are unable to provide site, eggs are found each year. In one contain one or more of the following funds to cover salaries), (7) of these ponds, larvae do not develop characteristics - be primarily field- References, if appropriate, (8) Any due to pollution by pesticides. The based, involve local herpetologists, other pertinent information. other two ponds are less than 10 m provide training and/or equipment that All information acquired with apart, one a little deeper, with steep will be used subsequently, determine the support of the DAPTF remains the slopes, the other shallow with flat the status of poorly known species, intellectual property of the grant sides. In this area 50 female and result in the publication of results. recipient, but must be freely available salamanders were found in 1997, 88 Applicants should draw attention to to the DAPTF and for the DAPTF's in 1998, 89 in 1999, 82 in 2000, and these criteria in their applications, as use in furthering its mission. 58 in 2001. Two males were found in appropriate. The closing date for 1997, three in 1998, three in 1999, (2)ARMIAWARDS. The applications is 15th December, one in 2000, and none in 2001. When 2001. these ponds were first studied in 1978, The World Conservation Union (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission (SSC) The Open University ● The World Congress of Herpetology ● Harvard University 1979 and 1983 (Cai & Fei, 1984), the years before. Three clutches were been thorough monitoring to population appeared to be isolated but found under rotten foliage, one was determine the rarity of any of these not in immediate danger. In the found between stones, and another animals except for very local instances meantime, the habitat has decreased under grasses. We hope that this will as with Bolitoglossa borburata at in size and quality, with agricultural mark the start of the colonisation of Rancho Grande biological station, activities surrounding the ponds new breeding habitat. The ponds will where it can no longer be found. Not increasing every year and posing a have to be monitored for some years enough is known about B. orestes to threat to both the terrestrial habitat more to check if larvae develop and include it in any endangered category and the aquatic habitat for the larvae. recruitment takes place. To our since it is a very difficult species to In 1996, the Institute of Biology knowledge this is the first experiment find (Barrio & Fuentes, 1999b). of Chengdu (Chinese Academy of in China aimed at securing the Dendrobates leucomelas is an Sciences), in co-operation with the existence of an endangered attractive animal as a pet, hence the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History in amphibian by digging artificial ponds. current concern about its extinction in Hangzhou started a project to study We are grateful to Mr. Gu Xiao Venezuela. Nevertheless, the selling the biology of this species and protect Hua, director of the Ruiyansi Forest price for this animal in international its habitat. Results of fieldwork at Park, for his cooperation in markets has decreased a lot since it is Ruiyansi were published recently (Xie establishing measures for the very easy to breed in captivity (Barrio et al., 2000), and observations on protection of this species and its & Fuentes, 1999a). Our own reproductive behaviour will be habitat. The project could never observations show that D. leucomelas published shortly (Sparreboom et al., succeed without Mr. Gu’s effective is abundant in all places sampled in press). actions and his commitment to this (Barrio & Fuentes, 1998). Minyobates With the co-operation of the case. steyermarki should be considered directorate of Ruiyansi Forest Park, References under a threatened species category two ponds were dug in June 1999 with Cai, C.M. & Fei, L. (1984) Description since its restricted habitat (the top of the aim of creating extra breeding of neotype of Echinotriton chinhaiensis Cerro Yacapana, an isolated “tepui” in habitat and to reduce the risk from (Chang) and its ecology and habit. Amazonas Sate) makes it vulnerable calamities occurring in the only Acta Herpetologica Sinica 3:71-78(In to any natural or artificial catastrophe. remaining good habitat. Further Chinese, with English abstract). As is now known, an illegal expedition encroachment upon the habitat by extracted some 150 animals for a orange orchards and tea plantations Sparreboom, M., Xie, F. & Fei, L. German breeding center. The main was stopped and a sign was posted (2001) Reproductive behaviour of the threat, however, comes from open air telling the farmers that it was Chinhai salamander (Echinotriton gold mining mostly by Brazilian forbidden to dump any remains of chinhaiensis) (Caudata: “garimpeiros”, which causes Salamandridae). Amphibia-Reptilia (in pesticide containers in the pond or to widespread deforestation, soil erosion, wash their equipment there. press). general depredation and mercury The ponds were dug approx. Xie, F., Fei, L., Ye, C., Cai, Ch., poisoning (Barrio & Fuentes, 1999a). 50 m away from the two main Wang, Z. & Sparreboom, M. (2000) The species that appear under breeding habitats, situated in a similar Breeding migration and oviposition of the two most endangered categories environment. These new ponds are 3 the Chinhai salamander, Echinotriton accordingtotheRed Book all belong m long, 2 m wide and 0.40 m deep chinhaiensis. Herpet. J. 10: 111-118. to the genus Atelopus. Atelopus with gradually sloping banks. Water Contact: Max Sparreboom, Xie Feng carbonerensis is the most threatened supply is fairly constant and there is & Fei Liang under the “In Critical Danger” section; much vegetation surrounding the [email protected] the remainder (A. cruciger, A. ponds. A nearby rocky slope, covered [email protected] mucubajiensis, A. oxyrhynchus, A. with vegetation, is similar to that pinangoi, A. sorianoi and A. bordering the original ponds, affording Amphibian tamaense) are all in the “Endangered” hiding places for the salamanders. Decline in category despite the fact that none When the pond was visited in Venezuela – the have been seen for the past 5 years August 1999 there was still little State of and, though there are no precise vegetation on the slopes except Knowledge details about A.