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New population of Critically Endangered Northern moss frog discovered in Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area

9 Oct 2024

A new and healthy sub-population of the Critically Endangered, Northern moss frog was recently discovered in the far south of the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area during a targeted biodiversity survey. With a maximum size of only 14mm, the Northern moss frog, Arthroleptella subvoce, was previously known from only three locations in South Africa, all within the mountains of the Groot Winterhoek Reserve and Wilderness Area.

Two A. subvoce populations on Groot Winterhoek Reserve are monitored annually for the past 20 years and both were severely affected by a recent fire in April 2024. This exciting discovery of a fourth population brings hope that more may be found in the future and re-affirms our conservation efforts despite ongoing threats. Post fire monitoring indicated that both populations survived the fire, but relative abundance had an approximately five-fold reduction at both monitoring sites. This indicated the need for adaptive management interventions focused on the design of firebreaks to protect the habitat for this threatened species.

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The seep which is home to the largest known on-reserve A. subvoce population. Some vegetation regrowth is visible five months after the fire.

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