review of non-cites amphibia species that are known or likely to be ...

REVIEW OF NON-CITES AMPHIBIA SPECIES THAT ARE KNOWN OR LIKELY TO BE IN
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
AMPHIBIA: HIPEROLIIDAE
SPECIES:
Heterixalus rutenbergi
SYNONYMS:
COMMON NAMES:
RANGE STATES:
IUCN RED LIST:
PREVIOUS EC OPINIONS:
Rutenberg's Reed Frog (English)
Madagascar
Near Threatened
n/a
TRADE PATTERNS:
No national trade statistics were identified for this species. The following information was
derived from the web survey (as outlined in the section on methodology):
A care sheet for the species was available on the British website
http://www.pollywog.co.uk/rutenbergsreedcaresheet.html.
The species was included in the list of frogs on the Czech retail website
www.animalfarm.cz.
The German website http://www.reptilien-import.de/zbozi.asp?id=6 advertised the
species for €13.
One person noted that they were importing this species to Canada in an ad posted on
http://talkto.thefrog.org/index.php?action=vthread&forum=13&topic=5870; The asking
price was Canadian $32 per individual.
On the website http://dragonsdasgard.actifforum.com/ethique-terrariophile-f10/prixd-un-importateur-indonesien-t3271.htm
there was information on the species retailing at
US$ 6.
CONSERVATION STATUS IN RANGE STATES
MADAGASCAR: Heterixalus rutenbergi occurs widely in the central plateau of Madagascar
from 1,200 - 1,500m above sea level (Glaw & Vences, 1994; IUCN et al., 2007), but it was
reported to be an uncommon species (IUCN et al., 2007). Recorded from the high plateau of
Madagascar in 1993 by Raxworthy & Nussbaum (1996).
H. rutenbergi is known from six localities, all on the central high plateau of Madagascar:
Ambohitantely, Mantasoa, Ambatolampy, Tsinjoarivo, Itremo and Ambatofitoharanana
(Glaw & Vences, 1994; Raharivololoniaina et al., 2003). Vallan (2000) recorded the species
from the Ambohitantely reserve, outside forested areas and IUCN et al. (2007) noted that it
probably occurs in the Ambohitantely Special Reserve, and perhaps in other protected areas
(IUCN et al., 2007).
Raharivololoniaina et al. (2003) noted that “certainly, the species is widespread over central
Malagasy highlands, but its populations may have low densities and be vulnerable to
transformation of moorland into rice fields. Additional fieldwork is needed to ascertain its
habitat requirements and conservation status” and, similarly, that “contrary to other
Heterixalus species, H. rutenbergi seems to be restricted to highland savannahs and has so far
not been recorded in high densities; its status should therefore be more carefully monitored”.
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