Sooglossus Sechellensis
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The Seychelles frog (''Sooglossus sechellensis'') is a species of frog endemic to Mahé, Silhouette and Praslin islands in the Seychelles. It inhabits the floor of damp
rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...
at altitudes from to
above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...
. Higher altitude sites are considered to be more climatically stable and more suitable. The species is present in Morne Seychellois National Park, Silhouette National Park and
Praslin National Park The Praslin National Park and surrounding areas Important Bird Area lies in the southern part of the island of Praslin in the Seychelles archipelago of the western Indian Ocean. Description The 700  ha Important Bird Area (IBA) extends ...
. The reproductive biology of this species is unusual. Eggs are laid on the ground and guarded until they hatch. The tadpoles are thereafter carried on one of their parent's backs. The
IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
assessed the species as " Endangered" in 2013. Although it is locally common, it has a small area of occupancy (about 29 km2), a severely fragmented habitat and distribution, and a declining population, particularly at lower altitudes. It is threatened by habitat degradation due to fire and invasive species (the tree '' Cinnamomum verum'' and the yellow crazy ant, '' Anoplolepis gracilipes''). In addition, climate change projections predict a steady shrinkage in its area of habitat due to declining rainfall. Genetic analysis indicates that the three populations of this species are all distinct from each other and are possibly even separate species. It has been proposed that each of the three populations be considered evolutionary significant units for conservation purposes.


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Monitoring and research into the amphibians and reptiles of Seychelles
Amphibians of Seychelles Endemic fauna of Seychelles Sooglossus Amphibians described in 1896 {{Neobatrachia-stub