Conservation Needs Assessment Summary

Cederberg Ghost Frog, Hex River Torrent Frog, Hex River Ghost Frog
(Heleophryne depressa)

Printable version South Africa, Assessed 20 Dec 2024

Assessment details

At least 50% of the individuals of this species are likely to be included within one or more well-managed or reliably protected areas. Occurs in many protected areas, in continuous mountain habitat (Matjies Rivier Provincial Nature Reserve, Matroosberg Mountain Catchment Area, Koue Bokkeveld Mountain Catchment Area)

Enough well-managed and reliably protected habitat exists, either within or outside of currently protected areas that is suitable for conservation translocation, including population restoration or conservation introduction. Matjies Rivier Provincial Nature Reserve, Matroosberg Mountain Catchment Area, Koue Bokkeveld Mountain Catchment Area

It is unlikely that any in situ conservation actions are in place for this species.

Additional in situ research is required to better understand the species. Research needs to be conducted to figure out where the alien fish species that threaten this species occur (which rivers, how far upstream, etc.). Also unclear how alien vegetation affects this species. Monitoring of the northern extent that is likely to be impacted by climate change first should be conducted.

This species is not currently facing any major threats in the wild, and no conservation action is required at this time to safeguard this species in the wild. Occurs in one large subpopulation; not suspected to be in decline.

The known population of this species in the wild is large enough to recover naturally, without ex situ intervention if threats are mitigated.

The biological and ecological attributes of this species make it suitable for developing husbandry regimes for more threatened related species. This could be the analog for other species in the genus, as it is Least Concern and not currently in decline. If it suddenly needed an analog, however, H. perscelli would be the best candidate.

This species has not been held in captivity to date.

The species is either especially diurnal, active or colourful, or there is an interesting or unusual aspect of its ecology that make it particularly suitable to be an educational ambassador for conservation of the species in the range country, either in zoos or aquariums or within ecotourism activities. A pretty species with a transparent belly.

Sufficient animals are likely to be available or potentially available to initiate an ex situ program, if one was recommended.

A complete taxonomic analysis of the species in the wild has been carried out, to fully understand the functional unit to be conserved. This species is a split from H. purcelli (a former subspecies), and is not yet in the Red List, EDGE, or AmphibiaWeb databases.