Biodiversity management plan for the western leopard toad amietophrynus pantherinus

Including, inter alia:

• 
  “(4)(a) Sustainable development requires the consideration of all relevant factors including the following:
  

• 
  “(4)(r) Sensitive, vulnerable, highly dynamic or stressed ecosystems, such as coastal shores, estuaries, wetlands, and similar systems require specific attention in management and planning procedures, especially where they are subject to significant human resource usage and development pressure.”
  

• 
  Activities requiring environmental authorisation:
  

3. 
   Context in National Biodiversity Framework;
   

4. 
   Context in Bioregional plans;
   

5. 
   Context in any other plans issued in terms of NEMBA;
   

6. 
   Context in IDP of City of Cape Town;
   

• 
  Wetlands are a major focus area, and several nature reserves (Rondevlei, Seekoeivlei, Kenilworth, Raapenberg, Die Oog) and national parks (TMNP: Tokai, Noordhoek, Silvermine) as well as the Constantia Green Belt contain Breeding sites.
  
• 
  Several Core Conservation areas (Kenilworth, Tokai, Rondevlei) are integral to conservation of the Western Leopard Toad, and corridors and green belts between these follow wetlands and rivers allowing for connectivity between these sites.
  

7. 
   Context in international agreements;
   

8. 
   Context in any other plans;
   

9. 
   Status in terms of NEMBA, IUCN Red Data List, CITES, provincial ordinances;
   
   • 
     Because the Leopard Toad is not subject to a restricted activity it does not qualify for species protection under NEMBA.
     
   • 
     It does not qualify for ecosystem protection under NEMBA because most of its foraging habitat is urban areas. Although Cape Flats Sand Fynbos is listed as Critically Endangered under NEMBA, the natural remnants within the Western Leopard Toad’s range are already under conservation.
     
   • 
     It is listed as globally and regionally Endangered (B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v)) in the IUCN Red List.
     
   • 
     As it is not traded it is not relevant to CITES.
     
   • 
     The species is legally protected under Schedule 2 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 19 of 1974. What does this say?
     
   • 
     All new development applications triggering the listed activities (GN. No. R386 & R387 of 21 April 2006) in terms of NEMA (Act 107 of 1998) will be evaluated by the IEM components. LUPO applications on appeal and undelegated LUPO applications. DEA&DP also have a forward planning division which are involved in forward planning documents.
     
   • 
     Land Use Planning Ordinance, No. 15 of 1985
     

In terms of section 42, Council may impose conditions of approval for planning applications.

10. 
    If not NEMBA listed, why does the species qualify for “special conservation concern”?;
    

11. 
    Cultural conservation status;
    

12. 
    Motivation for assigning priority for this BMP-S;
    

13. 
    Any existing BMP-S for this species or related species, or for species that might be adversely impacted or affected by the management of this species.
    

Also known as the August Frog (it breeds in August forming large aggregations in pools), Snoring Toad (the loud breeding call of the males) and Panther Toad.

1. 
   Taxonomy, including subspecific and genetic information:
   

Eick et al. (2001) found greater genetic divergence between A. pantherinus from the Western Cape and A. pardalis from the Eastern Cape than within either area, and agreed that B. pantherinus is specifically distinct from A. pardalis. However, Cunningham and Cherry (2000) found only 0.5% divergence between the species and asserted that the species represented distinct lineages.

While the advertisement call of A. pardalis (in the Eastern Cape) has been described (Passmore, 1977b), an adequate comparison of the calls of A. pardalis and A. pantherinus has not been published (Poynton and Lambiris, 1998). Thus the taxonomic status of the two populations needs to be fully resolved.

A. pantherinus females attain a snout-vent length of about 140 mm, the males being 15% smaller. The beautiful dorsal pattern of chocolate-brown patches with a bright yellow or black margin on a grey background, usually with a yellow vertebral stripe, distinguishes this species from the partially sympatric Raucous Toad A. rangeri that has generally dull brown dorsal markings, and Gutteral Toad A. angusticeps that, in this area, has a greyish dorsal surface covered in dark brown blotches, and yellow colouring on the upper surfaces of its feet. The ventrum of A. pantherinus is granular and cream coloured, with a darkish throat in males.

The advertisement call, a deep, pulsed snore, easily distinguishes A. pantherinus from all other sympatric toad species.

Toad tadpoles are generally small (less than 25mm long), bottom dwelling, with a broad gap in both the upper and lower oral papillae, a nostril diameter less than half the eye length, tail muscles paler below, and the fin ending in a rounded tip. The eggs are laid in strings.

Western Leopard Toad tadpoles are difficult to identify from other toad speceis. It differs from the Guttural Road which has dark pigmentation over most of the dorsal three quarters of the tail. It differs from the Raucous Toad which has the front of the tail paler on the underside. These differences are subtle.

2. 
   Distribution, migratory patterns, habitat requirements, biology and ecology;
   

Map 1:

The earliest distribution records of A. pantherinus were obtained from the Cape Peninsula and adjoining southwestern part of the Cape Flats (3318CD, 3418AB, BA). This area has also produced the most distribution records, including the following localities: Observatory, Valkenberg, Hout Bay, Noordhoek, Sun Valley, Fish Hoek, Clovelly, Kalk Bay, Kommetjie, Glencairn, Klaasjaagersberg (Cape of Good Hope section TMNP), Scarborough, Constantia, Bergvliet, Tokai, Diep River, Kirstenhof, Lakeside, Rondevlei, Zeekoevlei, Southfield, Ottery, Philippi, Strandfontein and some neighbouring areas.

Although Poynton (1964) recorded A. pantherinus occurring on the Cape Flats in grid cell 3318DC, no further records are known from this area. The mapping of this grid cell represents Poynton’s interpretation of South African Museum specimens from the “Cape Flats”. The species is more likely to have been recorded from the Cape Flats area immediately to the south, situated in grid cell 3418BA where there are known former and current localities. Anecdotal evidence from Faure in 2000 has not been verified.

In the coastal region to the southeast, A. pantherinus has been recorded from Pringle Bay and Betty’s Bay (3418BD, last recorded in 1999), Kleinmond (3419AC, last recorded in 1978), Hermanus and Stanford (3419AD, last recorded in 1971 and currently known, respectively), Gansbaai, Baardskeerdersbos and Uilenkraalsmond (3419CB, all atlas records), Pearly Beach area (3419DA, atlas records), and the Ratel River/Rietfontein in the Agulhas National Park (confirmed NatConCorp 2009).

Anecdotal records (including some photographs) have been recorded from, Breede River Mouth, Swellendam, and Vermaaklikheid(De Villiers, pers records), but these have never been verified and are suspected of being other toad species or possibly Western Leopard Toads accidentally transported by vehicles.

In summary, the Western Leopard Toad has been recorded from eight quarter-degree grid cells. Since 1995, it has been found in six of these cells of which 3419CB represents a new record.