Publications
Wildlife Australia, April 1997
ISBN 0 6422 1400 X
1. Family Leptodactylidae
2. Scientific Name Gen. nov. sp. nov.
3. English Name Sunset Frog, Australian Harlequin Frog
4. Intraspecific taxa
None.
5. Species survival status
Endangered. Recently discovered (Roberts et al. in press), this species has an extremely restricted extent of occurrence (26.1 km2) and area of occupancy (ca 10ha); among the most restricted of any vertebrate on mainland Australia. The species is only known from four sites.
6. Former distribution
Unknown. Not known to be different from current distribution.
7. Current distribution
Confined to four known localities with a total area of about 10 ha in the Mt Frankland and Mt Roe proposed National Parks in the far south west corner of WA.
8. Habitat
Peaty Valley headwater sites at 110m altitude where there is marked topographic relief.
9. Reasons for decline
No decline documented. Possible threats include peat burning and feral pigs.
10. Conservation reserves on which species occurs
WA: Mt Frankland and Mt Roe proposed National Parks.
11. Other public lands on which species occurs
WA: State Forest (unnamed).
12. Other land on which species occurs
None known.
13. Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No. Little is known of the biology and ecology of the species.
14. Recovery Plan objectives
14.1. To determine the distribution and size of populations.
14.2. To determine the conservation status of populations.
14.3. To determine the breeding biology of the species in relation to disturbance.
14.4. To determine possible threats to the species.
14.5. To develop management actions necessary to conserve the species and to prepare a recovery plan.
15. Management actions completed or under way
15.1. Surveys of distribution by listening for male breeding calls.
15.2. A study aimed at documenting distribution, estimating population size, studying breeding biology and assessing possible threats commenced late in 1996 and is being carried out by the University of WA. It is funded by the Environment Forest Taskforce of Environment Australia.
16. Management actions required
Actions can only be established when Recovery Plan objectives identified above are complete.
17. Organisations responsible for conservation of species
WA Department of Conservation and Land Management.
18. Other organisations involved
University of Western Australia.
19. Can recovery plan be carried out with existing resources?
No.
There is a need for research into the distribution, biology, ecology and threats as outlined. Salary (graduate research assistant) $30K, including on-costs; electrophoresis study to determine discreteness of populations $5K; consumables $1K; travel costs $2K.
Total $38K
References:
Roberts, J. D., Horwitz, P., Wardell-Johnson, G., Maxson, L.R. and Mahony, M. J. In press. Taxonomy, relationships and conservation of a new genus and species of myobatrachid frog from the high rainfall region of southwestern Australia. Copeia.
Herpetological authorities consulted:
A. Burbidge, J.D. Roberts.