Tanzaniaherps.org
The herpetofauna of Mountains of Tanzania
Nectophrynoides paulae , Menegon, Salvidio, Ngalason & Loader, 2007
IUCN: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR)
Paratype of N. paulae photographed in life on Ukaguru Mountains.
type
in Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento, Italytype locality
Mamiwa-Kisara North Forest Reserve at 1800 m above sea level, Ukaguru Mountains,
recorded localities
Ukaguru,
Habitat and Ecology
Montane forest at about 1800m. The only known valley inhabited by this species is dominated by the tree fern Cyathea manniana. All specimens were found on vegetation up to 1.30 m from the ground during rainy evenings along a stream and close to standing water. In terms of microhabitat selection N. paulae was most often captured on small tree shrubs or bushes with males calling from exposed sites. The syntopic N. laticeps (Channing et al., 2005) has never been found on bushes or trees but only on the forest floor within leaf litter. Perhaps these differences reflect some sort of niche separation. Further investigation of the ecology of these species will be necessary.
Major Threats
Conservation measures
Based on current knowledge of the species distribution and habitat preference, the maximal area of occupancy for N. paulae must be equal or less than 172 km2, an area that comprises the maximal extent of the forest reserves of the Ukaguru Mountains (comprising the contiguous Mamiwa-Kisara North and South Forest Reserves, Ikwamba Forest Reserve, Mamboto Forest Reserve and Uponera Forest Reserve). As a preliminary assessment for N. paulae, according to red list categories based on the criterion of a geographic range less than 5,000 km2, the species qualifies as being Endangered. Further studies will be necessary to confirm its presence throughout the Ukaguru Mountains. If studies show that the species is in fact confined to just part of the Mamiwa-Kisara FR, equalling less than 100km2 area of occupancy, then the conservation status will need to be re-evaluated. Furthermore, if the area undergoes any change such as accelerated habitat destruction, or evidence is presented showing the species population is small, or declining, then the status will need to be elevated to the Critically Endangered category. It is worrying to note that this species was not recorded during previous surveys in the area and in nearby forest patches, perhaps a result of its low population density. Monitoring of the amphibian fauna of the Ukaguru Mountains now seems be a priority, also given the presence of other endemic species and genera (Channing & Stanley 2003; Channing et al., 2005; Loader et al., 2006).
Description and Diagnosis
A small-sized Nectophrynoides ranging from 15 to 24 mm, characterised by prominent, large conical shaped spines covering head, eyelids, dorsum and hindlimbs. These spines are conical in shape ending with a conspicuous clear keratinized horny tip. A set of six spines, often larger than others, are arranged symmetrically on the region of the head and shoulder. Spines often are concentrated also on the anterior part of the head, dorsum, sacral region and limbs. Tips of fingers and toes are rounded, not or slightly expanded, never truncated. The foot length is greater than or equal to length of tibia. Tympanum and tympanic annulus are present and clearly visible. Parotoid glands are absent. Hands are not webbed, while fingers are only webbed at their base. The two distal phalanges of the fifth toe are free of main webbing, the three distal phalanges of fourth toe are free of main webbing on both sides. The upper lips often show dark markings on a paler background colour. These features distinguish N. paulae from all others known species.
Call and Calling bahaviour
The male high frequency advertisement call is monophasic (Fig. 4). It consists of a sequence of similar pulse groups, each of them composed of 3 to 5 pulses. The group duration is about 0.6 sec. The pulse duration is about 27 msec (average 27.4 ± 2.1) with an inter-pulse duration of about 120 msec (average 121.4 ± 27). Each pulse has a very stable dominant frequency of about 3.1 kHz, with a third harmonic emphasized at about 9.4 kHz. Males were calling from leaves at about 0.5 – 1.5 m above forest floor after dusk.
mp3 of the call
sonagram of the call
Similar species
Data providers
Selected Bibliography
- Channing, A. & Stanley, W.T. (2003) A new tree toad from Ukaguru Mountains, Tanzania. African Journal of Herpetology, 51, 121–128.
- Channing, A., Menegon, M., Salvidio, S. & Akker, S. (2005) A new forest toad from the Ukaguru Mountains, Tanzania (Bufonidae: Nectophrynoides). African Journal of Herpetology, 54, 149–157.
- Loader S.P., Channing, A., Menegon, M. & Davenport, T.R.B. (2006) A new species of Probreviceps (Amphibia: Anura)
from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Zootaxa, 1237: 45–60. - Menegon, M., Salvidio, S., Ngalason, W. & Loader, S. (2007) A new dwarf forest toad (Amphibia: Bufonidae: Nectophrynoides) from the Ukaguru Mountains, Tanzania. Zootaxa 1541: 31–40 (2007)