Du Toit's Torrent Frog
CR

Du Toit's Torrent Frog

Arthroleptides dutoiti

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

Du Toit's torrent frog, the Mt. Elgon torrent frog, or the Kenya rocky river frog is a possibly extinct species of frog in the family Petropedetidae. It is endemic to Mount Elgon, where it has been observed along fast-flowing montane streams surrounded by dense forest in Kenya; it has not been found on the Ugandan part of the mountain, but is expected to occur in more localities than those it has been found in.

This species rests on rocks and logs near these streams, sometimes hanging to them like an insect, or in the water beneath them, and is a capable swimmer. It is one of numerous species of frog commonly described by the polyphyletic designator "torrent frog."

Arthroleptides dutoiti faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and human activities. Mining operations and infrastructure development pose additional pressures on the remaining forest fragments where this critically endangered frog persists.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane forest streams and adjacent riparian vegetation in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. It requires clean, fast-flowing water with rocky substrates and dense canopy cover typical of undisturbed mountain forests.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in PETROPEDETIDAE

CR

Perret's Water Frog

Petropedetes perreti

Declining
EN

Tanzania Rocky River Frog

Arthroleptides martiensseni

Unknown
VU

Efulen Water Frog

Petropedetes palmipes

Declining
EN

Petropedetes euskircheni

Declining

Threatened in Kenya

VU

Panicum pinifolium

Unknown
VU

Aidia abeidii

Unknown
EN

Black-fronted Spurfowl

Pternistis atrifrons

Declining
VU

Zanthoxylum mildbraedii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Du Toit's Torrent Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Du Toit's Torrent Frog is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Arthroleptides dutoiti faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and human activities. Mining operations and infrastructure development pose additional pressures on the remaining forest fragments where this critically endangered frog persists.
Where does Du Toit's Torrent Frog live?
Du Toit's Torrent Frog occurs in Kenya, and Uganda. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Du Toit's Torrent Frog?
The main threats to Du Toit's Torrent Frog are 2.1, 2.1.1, 5.3, and 7.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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