The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

ISSN 2307-8235 (online)

IUCN 2008: T54483A114916610
Scope: Global
Language: English

Ansonia spinulifer, Spiny Slender Toad

Assessment by: IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. 2018. Ansonia spinulifer. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species 2018: e.T54483A114916610. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-
1.RLTS.T54483A114916610.en

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Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Amphibia Anura Bufonidae

Taxon Name:  Ansonia spinulifer (Mocquard, 1890)

Common Name(s):
• English: Spiny Slender Toad, Kina Balu Stream Toad
Taxonomic Source(s):
Frost, D.R. 2014. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6 (27 January 2014).
New York, USA. Available at: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html. (Accessed: 27
January 2014).

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published: 2018

Date Assessed: March 6, 2018

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution and presumed large population.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

2004 – Near Threatened (NT)
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T54483A11139712.en

Geographic Range
Range Description:
This Bornean endemic is widely distributed in relatively steep terrain in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia,
and all provinces in Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is found at elevations from 150–750 m asl.

Country Occurrence:
Native: Indonesia (Kalimantan); Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ansonia spinulifer – published in 2018. 1
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T54483A114916610.en
Distribution Map
Ansonia spinulifer

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ansonia spinulifer – published in 2018. 2
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T54483A114916610.en
Population
It appears to be abundant at scattered lowland localities. Due to ongoing decline in the extent and
quality of habitat, the population is suspected to be decreasing.
Current Population Trend:  Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

Adults disperse widely over the floor and herb stratum of lowland rainforest. It requires small, clear,
rocky-bottomed streams to breed in, and larvae live in torrents, clinging to rocks and feeding on
lithophytes. It appears to be somewhat adaptable to modified habitats, as it has been recorded from
mature oil palm plantations in areas where there are clear streams with good water quality, and some
recreational areas (Inger et al. 2017, P. Yambun pers. comm. January 2018).

Systems:  Terrestrial, Freshwater

Use and Trade

There are no records of this species being utilized.

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

The main threat to the species is deforestation of large portions of the habitat, with the resultant loss of
adult and juvenile (through the siltation of streams) feeding microhabitats. Conversion of forest to oil
palm plantations is also a threat and it is possible that a broad portion of its range might soon be
converted to Acacia plantations. Some of the subpopulations in Sarawak are threatened by logging and
conversion of habitat for agriculture, both small and large-scale farming (Y.M. Pui pers. comm. March
2018). In Sabah, the species is adequately protected (P. Yambun pers. comm. January 2018).

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

Conservation Actions
In Sabah, it occurs in Kinabalu and Crocker Range National Parks, Danum Valley Conservation Area, and
Tawau Hills Park. In Kalimantan, this species has been recorded from Gunung Palung National Park, Raya
Pasi Nature Reserve, Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, Gunung Nyiut Nature Reserve, as well as
Sebadak Raya Village Forest, which is managed and maintained by indigenous people (Mediyansyah
pers. comm. May 2017). It has also been recorded in the conservation area of forest concessions (Kutai
Barat District) and oil palm concessions (Penajam Paser Utara District, East Kalimantan Province;
Mediyansyah pers. comm. May 2017). In Sarawak, it is thought that more than 50% of the
subpopulations occurs in protected areas (Y.M. Pui pers. comm. March 2018).

Conservation Needed
Sustainable management of conservation areas within the forest and oil palm concessions need to be
improved and continued (Mediyansyah pers. comm. May 2017). Effective preservation of lowland forest
is needed to conserve this species because oil palm plantations are encroaching into protected areas.
Some oil palm companies and forestry companies designate High Conservation Value areas, which is
required by some financial institutions providing loans. However, not all lenders require these areas to
be set aside and the habitat within the HCVs could disappear if the lender or requirements change

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ansonia spinulifer – published in 2018. 3
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(Indonesia Red List Assessment Workshop May 2017).

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, and threats.

Credits
Assessor(s): IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group

Reviewer(s): Luedtke, J.

Contributor(s): Iskandar, D., Das, I., Lakim, M., Mediyansyah, Munir, M., Kamsi, M., Yambun, P.,
Stuebing, R., Inger, R.F. & Pui, Y.

Facilitators(s) and Luedtke, J., Neam, K., Hobin, L.

Compiler(s):

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ansonia spinulifer – published in 2018. 4
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Bibliography
Inger, R.F. 1960. A review of the Oriental toads of the genus Ansonia Stoliczka. Fieldiana: Zoology 39:
473-503.

Inger, R.F. 1992. Variation of apomorphic characters in stream-dwelling tadpoles of the bufonid genus
Ansonia (Amphibia: Anura). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 105: 225-237.

Inger, R.F. and Stuebing, R.B. 1997. A Field Guide to the Frogs of Borneo. Borneo Natural History
Publishers, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Inger, R., Stuebing, R., Grafe, U. and Dehling, M. (eds). 2017. A Field Guide to the Frogs of Borneo.
Natural History Publications, Kota Kinabulu.

IUCN. 2018. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-1. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 28 June 2018).

Malkmus, R., Manthey, U., Vogel, G., Hoffmann, P. and Kosuch, J. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of
Mount Kinabalu (North Borneo). A.R.G. Gantner Verlag K.G., Ruggell, Liechtenstein.

Citation
IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. 2018. Ansonia spinulifer. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2018: e.T54483A114916610. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T54483A114916610.en

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External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ansonia spinulifer – published in 2018. 5
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T54483A114916610.en
 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Resident Suitable Yes

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.1. Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Resident Suitable Yes
Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Ongoing - - -

perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.2. Small-holder
farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Ongoing - - -

perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.3. Agro-industry
farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.2. Wood & pulp Future - - -

plantations -> 2.2.2. Agro-industry plantations
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood Ongoing - - -

harvesting -> 5.3.5. Motivation
Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents -> Ongoing - - -

9.3.2. Soil erosion, sedimentation
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Occur in at least one PA: Yes

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ansonia spinulifer – published in 2018. 6
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Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions Needed

1. Land/water protection -> 1.2. Resource & habitat protection

2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 590916

Lower elevation limit (m): 150

Upper elevation limit (m): 750

Population
Population severely fragmented: No

Habitats and Ecology

Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes

Movement patterns: Not a Migrant

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ansonia spinulifer – published in 2018. 7
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The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens
Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;
Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™