Family Pyxicephalidae

Arthroleptella landdrosia Dawood and Channing, 2000

Landdroskop Moss Frog, Landdroskop Chirping Frog, Landdroskop-mospaddatjie (A)

By A. Channing

Currently accepted name: Arthroleptella landdrosia
Red listing status: Near Threatened

Identification

Males reach 15 mm in length (Channing 2001). This species may be identified by its advertisement call that consists of a relatively long series of strident clicks, unlike the very short, chirping call of the sympatric A. villiersi (Dawood and Channing 2000; A. Turner and A.L. de Villiers pers. comm.).

Distribution

A. landdrosia is endemic to the Hottentots Holland and Kogelberg mountains, reaching the coast near Rooi Els and Betty’s Bay (3418BD). It is found from sea level to 1600 m. The atlas distribution data are reliable.

Habitat

A. landdrosia inhabits montane fynbos and forest (A.L. de Villiers pers. comm.) along streams and in seepages, including those on steep slopes. It occurs in winter rainfall areas that receive annual rainfall >750 mm.

Life history

Breeding takes place between September and February (spring and late summer). Males call from concealed positions in moss and beneath dense vegetation near water along streams. Nothing further is known about the life history and ecology of this species.

Conservation

Status

A. landdrosia is known from Hottentots Holland and Kogelberg nature reserves (Channing 2001; Harrison et al. 2001). Although the limited area of occupancy and extent of occurrence of this species seem to warrant a higher category of threat, major declines are not anticipated because the species occurs in generally rugged and inaccessible terrain, and the known populations are not severely fragmented. The species was therefore classified Near Threatened (Harrison et al. 2001; this publication). While the species is not considered to be under immediate threat, appropriate conservation management practices are required in order to ensure its survival in the long term.

Threats

Present and potential future threats to this species include changes in the quality of its habitat due to drainage, damming and habitat fragmentation caused by invasive alien vegetation, afforestation and frequent fires (Harrison et al. 2001).

Recommended conservation actions

More fieldwork is needed to better understand the distribution, life history and ecology of A. landdrosia. Habitat and limiting factor management, as well as regular population monitoring, are recommended (Harrison et al. 2001).

Current distribution map

Undated records;  pre-1996;  1996 to 2002;  2003 to present