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Assessment Results

 

Rhombophryne minuta

Tiny Digging Frog

Order: Anura Family: Microhylidae
Synonym(s): Plethodontohyla minuta

Assessed for: Madagascar   on: 06 May 2015   by: Mark D. Scherz
IUCN Global Red List: Endangered (EN)
National Red List: (not assessed)
Distribution: Madagascar
Evolutionary Distinctiveness score: 23.89945035

Recommended Conservation Actions:

Additional Comments:

Question # Short Name Question Text Response Comments
1 Extinction risk Current IUCN Red List category. [Data obtained from the IUCN Red List.] Endangered (EN) This species is currently known from three localities: Tsaratanana, Anjanaharibe-Sud, and Marojejy. In Marojejy it occurs at high altitude in unusual ericoid+lichen habitats. Its habitat in other locations is not known. A minimum convex polygon drawn over its known localities has an area of roughly 9483 square kilometres. Within this area, it likely occupies less than 2000 square kilometres. All three of the localities it is known from are known or inferred to be undergoing considerable decline in habitat quality and extent. It therefore qualifies for Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List Categories VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). Changed from VU to EN by D. Edmonds based on IUCN Red List website September 2019
2 Possibly extinct Is there a strong possibility that this species might be extinct in the wild? No / unlikely Specimens of this species have been collected in the last few years - there have been no indications of population collapse.
3 Phylogenetic significance The taxon’s Evolutionary Distinctiveness (ED) score, as generated by the ZSL EDGE program. (These data are not editable by Assessors). ED value 20 - 50
4 Protected habitat Is a population of at least 50% of the individuals of the taxon included within a well-managed or reliably protected area or areas? Yes / probably The Marojejy Massif is a national park, and is well protected. Recent political instability led to an increase in illegal logging within the park, but this was targeted at precious woods, and is unlikely to cause large-scale habitat collapse. Anjanaharibe-Sud is a special reserve. Tsaratanana is a strict nature reserve. It is possible that this species occurs outside of these areas, and is known only from them because they are protected, but it is likely that these areas capture the majority of its population.
5 Habitat for reintroduction, conservation translocation or supplementation Does enough well-managed and reliably protected habitat exist, either within or outside of currently protected areas that is suitable for conservation translocation, including population restoration or conservation introduction? Yes / probably High altitude massifs across northern Madagascar would likely be suitable sites for translocation or reintroduction of this species.
6 Previous reintroductions Have reintroduction or translocation attempts been made in the past for this species? No
7 In situ conservation activities Are any in situ conservation actions currently in place for this species? (Only required if a Red List Assessment has not been completed, or if new actions have been implemented since the last Red List Assessment. (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.).
8 In situ conservation activities Are additional in situ conservation actions required to help conserve this species in the wild (e.g. habitat restoration and/or protection, control of invasive species, national legislation etc.)? Yes / probably Improved management of Marojejy National Park
9 In situ research Is additional in situ research required to better understand the species, e.g. distribution, population trends, natural history etc.? Yes Population size and trends, taxonomic status, natural history
10 Threat mitigation Are the threats facing the taxon, including any new and emerging threats not considered in the IUCN Red List, potentially reversible? Threats are likely to be reversible in time frame to prevent further decline / extinction Improved policing of the Marojejy National Park, Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve, and Tsaratanana Strict Nature Reserve would improve threat mitigation potential.
11 Over-collection from the wild Is the taxon suffering from collection within its natural range, either for food, for the pet trade or for any other reason, which threatens the species’ continued persistence in the wild? No / unlikely As far as is known, this species is not collected for any reason.
12 Population recovery Is the known population of this species in the wild large enough to recover naturally, without ex situ intervention if threats are mitigated? Unknown At present, reliable population size estimates are not available.
13 Action plans Does an Action Plan for the species already exist, or is one currently being developed? No
14 Biological distinctiveness Does the taxon exhibit a distinctive reproductive mode, behaviour, aspect of morphology or physiology, within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.)? No aspect of biology known to be exceptional
15 Cultural/socio-economic importance Does the taxon have a special human cultural value (e.g. as a national or regional symbol, in a historic context, featuring in traditional stories) or economic value (e.g. food, traditional medicine, tourism) within its natural range or in a wider global context? No
16 Scientific importance Is the species vital to current or planned research other than species-specific ecology/biology/conservation within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.) e.g. human medicine, climate change, environmental pollutants and conservation science? No research dependent on this species
17 Ex situ research Does conserving this species (or closely related species) in situ depend upon research that can be most easily carried out ex situ? No More data is needed from in situ research in order to assess ex situ possibilities.
18 Ex situ conservation activities Is any ex situ research or other ex situ conservation action currently in place for this species? (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.) No / unlikely
19 Husbandry analog required If an ex situ rescue program is recommended for this species, would an analog species be required to develop husbandry protocols first? No / unlikely
20 Husbandry analog Do the biological and ecological attributes of this species make it suitable for developing husbandry regimes for more threatened related species? i.e. could this species be used in captivity to help to develop husbandry and breeding protocols which could be used for a similar, but more endangered species at a later stage? No Little is currently known of the ecology of this species.
21 Captive breeding Has this species been successfully bred and/or maintained in captivity? Not held in captivity to date
22 Conservation education/ecotourism potential Is the species especially diurnal, active or colourful, or is there an interesting or unusual aspect of its ecology that make it particularly suitable to be an educational ambassador for conservation of the species in the range country, either in zoos or aquariums or within ecotourism activities? No
23 Mandate Is there an existing conservation mandate recommending the ex situ conservation of this taxon? No
24 Range State approval If an ex situ initiative was proposed for this species, would it be supported (and approved) by the range State (either within the range State or out-of-country ex situ)? Yes / probably The Sahonagasy Action Plan is ratified by the Malagasy government and states support for ex situ initiatives for all amphibian species in Madagascar.
25 Founder specimens Are sufficient animals of the taxon available or potentially available (from wild or captive sources) to initiate an ex situ program, if one was recommended? Unknown Research into availability of founders needs to be prioritised. Probably, but current population sizes are unknown.
26 Taxonomic status Has a complete taxonomic analysis of the species in the wild been carried out, to fully understand the functional unit you wish to conserve (i.e. have species limits been determined)? Yes There are no other Rhombophryne species that can be confused with R. minuta, and its genetic variability is relatively low. Until recently, it was thought to be the sole member of its group within Rhombophryne, but a new species in description is sister to it and shares several aspects of its morphology. This new species is considerably larger, however, and is found in Sorata, where R. minuta is not known, and so little opportunity exists to confuse the two. Genetic samples are required from Anjanaharibe-Sud and Tsaratanana to confirm their identity.

Citation: Mark D. Scherz. 2015. Conservation Needs Assessment for Rhombophryne minuta, Madagascar.
https://www.conservationneeds.org/assessment/2130 Accessed 21 May 2024