CR

Northern Moss Frog

Arthroleptella subvoce

Declining

Overview

Arthroleptella subvoce is a species of frogs in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is endemic to South Africa and only known from the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, Western Cape. Common name northern moss frog has been coined for it. The specific name subvoce is Latin for "under voice" and refers to the very subdued male advertisement call of this frog.

Arthroleptella subvoce faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to invasive alien vegetation, particularly pine and eucalyptus plantations that alter the natural fynbos ecosystem. Urban development and agricultural expansion in the Western Cape region continue to fragment and destroy the species' limited montane habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the moisture-dependent breeding sites this moss frog requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered moss frog inhabits montane fynbos vegetation in the Western Cape of South Africa, typically found in seepage areas and along streams at elevations between 300-1000 meters. The species requires moist microhabitats with dense vegetation cover and is closely associated with pristine fynbos ecosystems that provide the specific moisture and temperature conditions necessary for breeding and survival.

Shrubland· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in PYXICEPHALIDAE

EN

Nothophryne baylissi

Declining
VU

Arthroleptella atermina

Unknown
EN

Arthroleptella landdrosia

Unknown
EN

Inago Mongrel Frog

Nothophryne inagoensis

Declining

Threatened in South Africa

VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Black-Spotted Blue

Orachrysops mijburghi

Unknown
Cape GannetEN

Cape Gannet

Morus capensis

Declining
Scarce BlackneckCR

Scarce Blackneck

Lygephila craccae

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Northern Moss Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Northern Moss 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. Arthroleptella subvoce faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to invasive alien vegetation, particularly pine and eucalyptus plantations that alter the natural fynbos ecosystem. Urban development and agricultural expansion in the Western Cape region continue to fragment and destroy the species' limited montane habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the moisture-dependent breeding sites this moss frog requires.
Where does Northern Moss Frog live?
Northern Moss Frog occurs in South Africa. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Northern Moss Frog?
The main threats to Northern Moss Frog are 7.1, 8.1, 9.3.4, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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