Sunset frog  (Spicospina flammocaerulea)

The very restricted and highly fragmented geographic range of the sunset frog makes it extremely vulnerable to chance events, such as disease or freak weather. However, reports that fires caused a decline in the population size at one site (8) were not substantiated when this site was burnt again in the summer of 2002-2003 and frogs bred after the fire (6). Indeed, although wildfire can ignite peat in peat swamps there is also evidence of populations persisting for long periods post fire and that fire can induce breeding activity (9). Further threats may include introduced feral pigs, which may damage breeding habitat, and inappropriate land management, such as over-grazing, killing vegetation, or inappropriate fire regimes (3) (6). Outbreaks of dieback fungus, Phytophthora cinnamomi, could also pose a significant threat to the species (6). The fact that the populations are so fragmented could result in genetic problems due to inbreeding (3), but there are no reliable data on population size or connectedness (6).

This frog is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of its highly restricted range. With regards to the conservation of this species, perhaps the most pressing requirement at present is to increase knowledge of its distribution and the threats facing it, allowing accurate estimates of population size and in effective conservation measures to be devised. Research and monitoring to this end is on-going. In addition, many of the sites supporting this species are situated within national parks, or state forest so the species receives a high level of protection in over two thirds of its known range (8)