2024 Program Grants: Ex situ conservation of the critically endangered restinga toad (Melanophryniscus setiba)
The critically endangered Restinga Toad (Melanophryniscus setiba) lives on the leaf litter near fire-prone areas, making wildfires one of its main threats in the Paulo César Vinha State Park (Brazil). AArk’s Conservation Needs Assessment had already identified this species as in urgent need for an ex situ breeding program, which will also allow for the study of its reproductive biology, diet, growth, and development. With AArk’s 3-year grant, the team, hosted by Instituto Butantan, will equip their lab with enclosures, equipment for simulating environmental conditions, and tools for microbiome and hormonal analyses. For its eventual reintroduction, the team already counts with several partnerships with experts in in situ conservation in the country.
Grantees:
Adriana Mezini | Museu Biológico Instituto Butantan
Marcelo Stéfano Bellini Lucas | Museu Biológico Instituto Butantan
The Restinga Toad (Melanophryniscus setiba), known only from its type locality situated approximately 1.5 km from the beach in the Setiba Restinga at Paulo César Vinha State Park (Brazil), was discovered in 2005 and described in 2012 based on 24 individuals, including 14 males, 9 females, and 1 subadult (Peloso et al., 2012). This species belongs to the family Bufonidae, and is characterized by its small size, with an average snout-vent length of about 15 mm. One of the most frequent and concerning threats to Melanophryniscus setiba is wildfires in the Paulo César Vinha State Park.
The last two major fires resulted in the loss of the entire Herbaceous Marsh, which subsequently spread to the larger vegetation, leading to the loss of numerous specimens, the exact number of which is not quantified, making it difficult to assess the impact on the fauna. The Restinga Toad inhabits the leaf litter close to the areas most affected by the flames, and there is no estimate of how much this species is impacted by the fires or how this may increase its vulnerability.
Given the highly impacted natural habitat of the species, its Conservation Needs Assessment has recommended rescue action with the establishment of an ex situ breeding program to enable reproduction in a secure environment and ensure a safe population for the species before it becomes extinct. This would also allow for the study of its reproductive biology, diet, growth, and development.
If successful in breeding and raising juveniles ex situ, and if a secure ex situ population can be established, exchanges with other institutions involved in the Southeast Action Plan (PAN Sudeste) could be initiated to ensure the multiplication of the ex situ population. In the future, the possibility of release could be considered, after evaluating the potential benefits and negative impacts of reintroduction projects for the target species.
Read an update of this project here.
