Bale Mountains Treefrog
CR

Bale Mountains Treefrog

Balebreviceps hillmani

Declining

Photo: Photo: (c) Stu Nielsen, all rights reserved, uploaded by Stu Nielsen

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Balebreviceps hillmani faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in its restricted montane habitat. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation, with ongoing conversion of native grasslands and shrublands for cultivation posing the primary risk. Climate change may further compress its already narrow altitudinal range, while invasive plant species alter the composition of its specialized high-altitude ecosystem.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits high-altitude montane grasslands and shrublands in the Ethiopian Highlands, typically found at elevations above 3,000 meters. It occupies specialized microhabitats within Afroalpine vegetation zones, particularly areas with dense grass tussocks and scattered shrubs that provide both foraging opportunities and shelter.

Forest· majorShrubland· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Bale Mountains Treefrog classified as Critically Endangered?
Bale Mountains Treefrog 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. Balebreviceps hillmani faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in its restricted montane habitat. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation, with ongoing conversion of native grasslands and shrublands for cultivation posing the primary risk. Climate change may further compress its already narrow altitudinal range, while invasive plant species alter the composition of its specialized high-altitude ecosystem.
Where does Bale Mountains Treefrog live?
Bale Mountains Treefrog occurs in Ethiopia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Bale Mountains Treefrog?
The main threats to Bale Mountains Treefrog are 2.3, 5.3, 5.4, and 8.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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