Amphibians And Reptiles
Despite their potential importance in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, very little research has been conducted on the assemblage of amphibian species in BMNP. This is perhaps even more surprising when it is considered how many unique species and genera occur only in this region. Several relatively short expeditions and day trips have been made to BMNP by amphibian experts, especially by Malcolm Largen and colleagues (1970s; 1986), Steven Spawls and colleagues (1994-1999) and, more recently (2006) teams from Harvard University (led by Breda Zimkus) and the Natural History Museum of London (led by Drs David Gower and Simon Loader). These field excursions have mostly been restricted to sites close to the main road running from Dinsho – Goba – Sanetti – Rira – Katcha, and there remains much room for further exploration of the BMNP amphibian and reptile fauna. To date, 17 species of amphibians have been reported from BMNP, twelve of which are endemic to Ethiopia, and four of which are endemic to the Bale Mountains (Balebreviceps hillmani, Ericabatrachus baleensis, Altiphrynoides malcolmi, and Ptychadena harenna). In addition, five lizards and seven snakes are known from Bale. Several of these species are known from very few individuals and/or only one or two specific localities, and their ecology and reproductive biology is incompletely understood. In 1978, the Ethiopian mountain toad (Altiphrynoides malcolmi) was described by Alice Grandison of the Natural History Museum in London (Grandison 1978), on the basis of numerous specimens collected by Malcolm Largen and others. Later, the Harenna Forest Expedition, organised and led by Dr J.C. Hillman while acting as adviser to the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organization, undertook fieldwork in the Bale Mountains National Park during three weeks in August 1986. Among the new species obtained were the Ethiopian short-headed frog (Balebreviceps hillmani Largen & Drewes 1989), Bale mountains frog (Ericabatrachus baleensis Largen 1991), Harenna forest grass frog (Ptychadena harenna Largen 1997) and the Harenna forest chameleon (Chamaeleo harennae Largen 1995). Subsequently, Colin Tilbury and Stephen Spawls collected examples of the Bale two-horned chameleon (Chamaeleo balebicornutus Tilbury 1998). The Ethiopian mountain toad is currently recorded from just one locality, where the Goba-Delo Mena road crosses a small patch of suitable habitat. Nothing is known about the species abundance in similar but less accessible places elsewhere in the Bale Mountains. Similar situations exist for the other amphibian and reptile species, which are only known from one or few specimens from single localities. Amphibians are generally under threat from climate change, habitat degradation and emerging diseases, and many species are experiencing population declines and extinctions in many parts of the world. The situation for Ethiopian amphibians is largely unstudied thus far. Further herpetological research in the Bale Mountains is essential in order to ensure the conservation of these and related species, many of which play a vital role in the promotion of a healthy ecosystem.
Links:
www.biogeography.unibas.ch/Mitarbeiter/Simon%20Loader/Simon%20Loader-ENGL.html
www.bmnh.org/~dgower/
www.oeb.harvard.edu/faculty/hanken/public_html/Zimkus.htm