CR

Irangi Puddle Frog

Phrynobatrachus irangi

Declining

Overview

Phrynobatrachus irangi is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is endemic to Kenya and is known only from two localities, its type locality, the eponymous Irangi Forest on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, and Kimande on the south-eastern slopes of the Aberdare Range. Common name Irangi puddle frog has been coined for it.

Phrynobatrachus irangi faces severe threats from rapid habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development within its extremely limited range in Rwanda. The species' dependence on specific wetland microhabitats makes it particularly vulnerable to water pollution from agricultural runoff and domestic waste. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could dry up the small water bodies essential for breeding.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered frog inhabits small wetlands, seasonal pools, and marshy areas within montane regions of Rwanda. The species requires clean, shallow water bodies with emergent vegetation for breeding and adjacent terrestrial areas with dense ground cover for foraging.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in PHRYNOBATRACHIDAE

EN

Phrynobatrachus discogularis

Unknown
Intermediate Puddle FrogCR

Intermediate Puddle Frog

Phrynobatrachus intermedius

Unknown
EN

Ambangulu Puddle Frog

Phrynobatrachus ambanguluensis

Unknown
CR

Manengouba River Frog

Phrynobatrachus manengoubensis

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 Irangi Puddle Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Irangi Puddle 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. Phrynobatrachus irangi faces severe threats from rapid habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development within its extremely limited range in Rwanda. The species' dependence on specific wetland microhabitats makes it particularly vulnerable to water pollution from agricultural runoff and domestic waste. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could dry up the small water bodies essential for breeding.
Where does Irangi Puddle Frog live?
Irangi Puddle Frog occurs in Kenya. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Irangi Puddle Frog?
The main threats to Irangi Puddle Frog are 11.1, 2.1, 7.2, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.