Ethiopian short-headed frog (Balebreviceps hillmani)

Description

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Ethiopian short-headed frog fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Ethiopian short-headed frog description

Described as both a new species and an entirely new genus as recently as 1989 ⁽³⁾, the Ethiopian short-headed frog is a moderately sized, rather robust amphibian with a striking pattern of yellow and blackish-brown bands running along the back. The feet of this species are conspicuously broad, with unwebbed digits and a much reduced fifth toe, which is situated high on the side of the fourth. Intriguingly, the Ethiopian short-headed frog is widely separated geographically from its nearest relatives, species of Probreviceps and Breviceps, and show characteristics somewhat intermediate between the two ^{(2) (3)}.

Size

Snout-vent length: up to 5.3 cm ⁽²⁾

Ethiopian short-headed frog biology

Little is currently known about the biology and life history of the Ethiopian short-headed frog. However, it is likely to live on the ground ⁽³⁾, and all specimens have so far been collected during the day from beneath logs and boulders ⁽¹⁾. This species is suspected to build a terrestrial nest in which to lay the eggs, which may undergo ‘direct development’, hatching into miniature versions of the adults rather than undergoing an aquatic larval stage ⁽¹⁾. The striking colouration of the Ethiopian short-headed frog is likely to serve as a warning to predators that it is unpalatable ^{(2) (3)}.

Ethiopian short-headed frog range

The Ethiopian short-headed frog is endemic to the Bale Mountains, east of the Rift Valley in Ethiopia, where it is known from just a single site at an elevation of 3,200 metres ^{(1) (2) (3) (4)}.

Ethiopian short-headed frog habitat

This species has been recorded from giant heath (Erica arborea) woodland, just below the treeline ^{(1) (2) (4)}.

Ethiopian short-headed frog status

Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Ethiopian short-headed frog threats

Although reported to be fairly numerous at the site from which it was first recorded in 1986, the Ethiopian short-headed frog is thought to be restricted to a relatively small area, and its habitat may be declining ⁽¹⁾. The increasing human population in the Ethiopian Highlands is putting pressure on the land through agricultural development and overgrazing ^{(2) (5)}, and although direct damage to the narrow belt of giant heath occupied by this frog is not thought likely in the near future, any such damage would pose a significant threat to the species ⁽¹⁾. Indirect effects of the logging of adjoining forests at slightly lower elevations may also threaten the Ethiopian short-headed frog ⁽¹⁾, while other factors such as climate change and disease may present future problems ⁽⁶⁾.

Ethiopian short-headed frog conservation

The Ethiopian short-headed frog occurs within the Bale Mountains National Park, although this area has yet to be officially gazetted ^{(1) (2) (5)}. Conservation priorities for this unique and little-known amphibian include the protection of Erica heath and woodland, and further survey work to better understand the species’ ecology, status and distribution ⁽¹⁾.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For more information on amphibian conservation see:

• IUCN / SSC Amphibian Specialist Group:
  http://www.amphibians.org/
• Gascon, C., Collins, J.P. Moore, R.D., Church, D.R., McKay, J.E. and Mendelson III, J.R. (2007) Amphibian Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Available at:
  http://www.amphibians.org/ASG/Publications_files/ACAP.pdf
• Amphibian Ark:
  http://www.amphibianark.org/

To find out more about conservation in the Ethiopian Highlands see:

• Conservation International: Biodiversity Hotspots - Eastern Afromontane:
  http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/afromontane/Pages/default.aspx
• Alliance for Zero Extinction - Bale Mountains National Park:
  http://www.zeroextinction.org/sitedata.cfm?siteid=48

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Glossary

Endemic

A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.

Genus

A category used in taxonomy, which is below ‘family’ and above ‘species’. A genus tends to contain species that have characteristics in common. The genus forms the first part of a ‘binomial’ Latin species name; the second part is the specific name.

Larval

Of the stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.

References

1. IUCN Red List (April, 2010)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. Largen, M.J. (2001) Catalogue of the amphibians of Ethiopia, including a key for their identification. Tropical Zoology, 14: 307-402.
3. Largen, M.J. and Drewes, R.C. (1989) A new genus and species of brevicipitine frog (Amphibia, Anura, Microhylidae) from high altitude in the mountains of Ethiopia. Tropical Zoology, 2(1): 13-30.
4. Frost, D.R. (2009) Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Available at:
   http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/
5. Conservation International: Biodiversity Hotspots - Eastern Afromontane (April, 2010)
   http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/afromontane/Pages/default.aspx
6. Gascon, C., Collins, J.P. Moore, R.D., Church, D.R., McKay, J.E. and Mendelson III, J.R. (2007) Amphibian Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Available at:
   http://www.amphibians.org/ASG/Publications_files/ACAP.pdf