Near Threatened Amphibian Species - Amphibian Specialist Group

624Threatened Amphibians of the WorldBoophis majori (Boulenger, 1896)MANTELLIDAEThis species occurs in eastern Madagascar from Ambohimitombo south to Andringitra, from 900-1,500m asl. Recordsfrom elsewhere require confirmation, and probably refer to other species. It is locally common where found. This isa rainforest species that is not found in secondary habitats. It is most often seen at night along streams in which itprobably breeds. The major threat to this species is rapid loss and degradation of its forest habitat due to subsistenceagriculture, timber extraction, charcoal manufacture, invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expandinghuman settlements. It occurs in Parc National d’Andringitra and Parc National de Ranomafana.Taxonomy: The taxonomy of this species was revised by Glaw et al. (2001).Bibliography: Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. (1979b), Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. and Blanc, C.P. (1991), Glaw, F. et al.. (2001), Glaw,F. and Vences, M. (1994)Data Providers: Ronald Nussbaum, Frank Glaw, Miguel VencesBoophis occidentalis Glaw and Vences, 1994This species has been recorded from four widely separated localities in western and north-western Madagascar: Isalo;Bemaraha; Sahamalaza, and outside the Réserve Spéciale de Kalambatritra. It occurs from close to sea level up to800m asl. There is little information on the population status of this species, but it can be locally abundant. It lives indry and transitional forest, and has been found in severely degraded habitats with planted trees along streams in avillage, although it probably cannot survive in completely open habitats. It is an explosive breeder in streams. The majorthreat to this species is rapid habitat loss and degradation due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoalmanufacture, livestock grazing, fires and expanding human settlements. It is probably also affected by pollution of itsbreeding streams. It occurs in Parc National de Isalo and is likely to occur in the Réserve Spéciale de Kalambatritra,although it has not yet been found there. It also occurs in one planned protected area (Sahamalaza).Taxonomy: This species was previously considered to be a subspecies of Boophis albilabris, but it was raised to full specific rank byAndreone et al. (2002). The north-western population could perhaps belong to an undescribed species (M. Vences pers. comm.).Bibliography: Andreone, F. (1993), Andreone, F. et al. (2002), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994)Data Providers: Frank Glaw, Miguel Vences, John CadleBoophis rhodoscelis (Boulenger, 1882)This species occurs only in east-central Madagascar. Although there has been some confusion in identifying thisspecies, studies of type specimens show that it clearly represents a valid, distinct species that seems to be restrictedto highland areas from 900-1,500m asl. It is a rare species, known from only a few localities. It lives in rainforest, andalso in open grassland close to forest fragments. Breeding presumably takes place in streams and brooks. This speciesis threatened by the loss and degradation of its forest habitat due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoalmanufacture, invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing, fires and expanding human settlements. It occurs inParc National de Ranomafana, and probably in several other protected areas, including those near Andasibe.Bibliography: Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. (1979b), Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. and Blanc, C.P. (1991), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994),Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1997), Raxworthy, C.J. and Nussbaum, R.A. (1996b), Vallan, D. (2000b)Data Providers: Franco Andreone, Miguel Vences, Denis VallanBoophis rufioculis Glaw and Vences, 1997 “1996”This species occurs in the central part of the eastern rainforest belt of Madagascar, from Mantadia south to Antoetra,from 900-1,200m asl. It is locally common. This species is found only in pristine rainforest, and probably breeds insmall brooks and streams. Its forest habitat is receding due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoalmanufacture, invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements. It occurs in ParcNational de Mantadia.Bibliography: Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1997), Vallan, D. (2002), Vallan, D. et al. (2004)Data Providers: Frank Glaw, Denis VallanMantella laevigata Methuen and Hewitt, 1913CLIMBING MANTELLAThis species is relatively widely distributed in north-eastern Madagascar, from Marojejy south to Folohy (where itshabitat has been degraded), and occurs from 0-600m asl. It is known from more than five localities and probablyoccurs at more sites than are currently known. It is locally abundant. This is a rainforest species, which is oftenparticularly abundant in bamboo forest and other types of forest with abundant tree holes (in which it breeds). It isprimarily terrestrial but also climbs on low vegetation. Its forest habitat is receding due to subsistence agriculture,timber extraction, charcoal manufacture, invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding humansettlements. It is traded in low numbers for the international pet trade, but not at a level that is likely to constitutea threat. This species occurs in several protected areas, and is also maintained and bred in several facilities outsideMadagascar. CITES Appendix II.Bibliography: Andreone, F. et al. (2000), Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. and Blanc, C.P. (1991), Busse, K. (1980), Daly, J.W. et al. (1996),Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1992b), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994), Glaw, F., Vences, M. and Schmidt, K. (2000), Guibé, J. (1978), Heying,H. (2001), Oetter, K., Wanke, S. and Vences, M. (2001), Raselimanana, A.P., Raxworthy, C.J. and Nussbaum, R.A. (2000), Staniszewski,M. (2001), Vences, M. et al. (1998), Vences, M., Glaw, F. and Böhme, W. (1999)Data Providers: Franco Andreone, Frank GlawMantidactylus bertini (Guibé, 1947)This species has a relatively broad distribution in south-eastern Madagascar from Ranomafana south to Andohahela,and occurs from 500-1,300m asl. It is a rather rare species. It lives in crevices among boulders and rocky areas, usuallyclose to flowing waters. This species is found in pristine forest, and does not survive in secondary or degraded areas.The details of its breeding biology are unknown, though breeding possibly takes place in water flowing among rocks.This species is threatened by the loss and degradation of its forest habitat due to subsistence agriculture, timberextraction, charcoal manufacture, invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements.It occurs in Parc National de Ranomafana, Parc National d’Andringitra and Parc National d’Andohahela, and in theRéserve Spéciale du Pic d’Ivohibe.Bibliography: Andreone, F. and Randriamahazo, H. (1997), Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. and Blanc, C.P. (1991), Glaw, F. and Vences, M.(1994), Nussbaum, R.A. et al. (1999), Raxworthy, C.J. and Nussbaum, R.A. (1996a)Data Providers: Ronald Nussbaum, John Cadle, Franco AndreoneMantidactylus blanci (Guibé, 1974)This species occurs in the Ranomafana area, south through the Andringitra Mountains to the Chaines Anosyennes,in south-eastern Madagascar. It has been recorded at 800-1,500m asl, and possibly also occurs lowerthan this. It is a locally abundant species. It is a terrestrial species of rainforest that is not tied to water, andalso occurs in somewhat degraded habitats. Breeding presumably takes place by direct development. Its foresthabitat is receding due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoal manufacture, the invasive spreadof eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements. It occurs in Parc National de Ranomafana andParc National d’Andringitra.Taxonomy: This species was removed from the synonymy of Mantidactylus decaryi by Glaw and Vences (2000).Bibliography: Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. and Blanc, C.P. (1991), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (2000), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (2002a)Data Providers: Miguel Vences, Frank GlawMantidactylus decaryi (Angel, 1930)This species is known from many localities in south-eastern Madagascar from Ranomafana south to Midongy-du-Sud,from 700-1,050m asl. It is a locally common species. It inhabits primary and secondary rainforest, and is sometimesfound in quite disturbed habitats. Breeding takes place by direct development, and away from water. This species isthreatened by the loss and degradation of its forest habitat due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoalmanufacture, invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements. It occurs in ParcNational de Ranomafana, the Réserve Spéciale du Pic Ivohibe, and Parc National de Midongy-du-Sud.Taxonomy: This species can be confused with Mantidactylus boulengeri and M. leucomaculatus (F. Andreone pers. comm.). Mantidactylusblanci was recently removed from the synonymy of M. decaryi by Glaw and Vences (2000).Bibliography: Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. and Blanc, C.P. (1991), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (2000),Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (2002a)Data Providers: Frank Glaw, John CadleMantidactylus leucocephalus (Angel, 1930)This species occurs in south-eastern Madagascar, from Mindongy-du-Sud south to Fort Dauphin, from near sea levelup to 900m asl. It is very abundant. This adaptable species does require some tree cover, and lives in leaf-litter inrainforest, degraded habitats, and eucalyptus plantations. It is independent of water and is presumed to breed bydirect development. This species is threatened by the loss and degradation of its forest habitat due to subsistenceagriculture, timber extraction, charcoal manufacture, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements. It occursin Parc National d’Andohahela and Parc National de Midongy-du-Sud.Taxonomy: This species was previously considered to be part of Mantidactylus boulengeri (Glaw and Vences 2002a).Bibliography: Andreone, F. and Randriamahazo, H. (1997), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (2002a)Data Providers: Christopher Raxworthy, Franco AndreoneMantidactylus leucomaculatus (Guibé, 1975)This species occurs in northern Madagascar from Marojejy south to Ambatovaky, and from the islands of Nosy Boraha(Ile St Marie) and Nosy Mangabe. It has been recorded from sea level up to 700m asl. It is locally abundant, but very rarein some places. This species is found only in undisturbed rainforest, where it lives independently of water, and probablybreeds by direct development. It is threatened by the loss and degradation of its forest habitat due to subsistenceagriculture, timber extraction, charcoal manufacture, invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expandinghuman settlements. It occurs in Parc National de Marojejy and Parc National de Masoala, the Réserve Spéciale deNosy Mangabe and the Réserve Spéciale d’Ambatovaky, and the Réserve de Biosphère de Mananara-Nord.Taxonomy: This species was considered to be Boophis maculatus by Blommers-Schlosser and Blanc (1991).Bibliography: Andreone, F. et al. (2003a), Andreone, F. and Randriamahazo, H. (1997), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1992a), Glaw, F.and Vences, M. (1992c), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994), Guibé, J. (1975), Guibé, J. (1978), Raselimanana, A.P., Raxworthy, C.J. andNussbaum, R.A. (2000)Data Providers: Franco Andreone, Christopher RaxworthyMantidactylus plicifer (Boulenger, 1882)This species has been recorded from two localities at 400-900m asl in south-eastern Madagascar: Ranomafana,and Chaines Anosyennes. It is suspected to occur more widely, in particular between these two known sites. It is amoderately common species, but is less common than the closely related Mantidactylus luteus. This is a species ofpristine rainforest only. It is not tied to water, so presumably breeds by direct development. It is threatened by theloss and degradation of its forest habitat due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoal manufacture,invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements. It occurs in Parc National deRanomafana, and perhaps in Parc National d’Andohahela.Taxonomy: This species is similar to Mantidactylus luteus, and some specimens and populations might be confused between thesetwo species. It was recently revised by Vences and Glaw (2001).Bibliography: Andreone, F. et al. (2003a), Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. and Blanc, C.P. (1991), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994), Vences,M. and Glaw, F. (2001)Data Providers: Frank Glaw, Miguel VencesMantidactylus spiniferus Blommers-Schlösser and Blanc, 1991This species is known only from south-eastern Madagascar, from Andringitra south to Andohahela, where it ranges from600-1,000m asl. Records from north-eastern Madagascar are erroneous. It is a rare species with a patchy distribution.This is a species of pristine rainforest only, which does not live in altered habitats. It is found on the forest fl oor, andis particularly associated with bamboo. Breeding is presumed to be by direct development. It is threatened by theloss and degradation of its forest habitat due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoal manufacture,invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements. It occurs in the Réserve Spécialede Kalambatritra, Parc National d’Andohahela, and Parc National d’Andringitra.Bibliography: Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. and Blanc, C.P. (1991), Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994), Nussbaum, R.A. et al. (1999), Vences,M. and Glaw, F. (2001)Data Providers: Christopher Raxworthy, Miguel VencesLeptolalax dringi Dubois, 1987MEGOPHRYIDAEThis Bornean endemic has been found at many sites in Sabah, and in adjacent parts of Sarawak and Kalimantan, from200-1,500m asl. There are no estimates of subpopulation status, but it is not rare at sites where it has been found. It