Kihansi Spray Toad (Nectophrynoides asperginis) — Extinct in the Wild

At a glance

IUCN category: EW · Extinct in the Wild
Animal group: Reptiles & Amphibians
Population trend: Trend unknown
FaunaHub record reviewed: 2026-06-16
Checked against IUCN: Matches source — IUCN's 2015 global assessment of Nectophrynoides asperginis says Extinct in the WildChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment

Conservation overview

The Kihansi spray toad is a tiny toad that lived only in the mist of a single Tanzanian waterfall. It is assessed as Extinct in the Wild.

It was saved by captive colonies and has been the subject of reintroduction efforts.

Range & habitat

Native to the spray zone of the Kihansi Gorge in Tanzania; survives through captive breeding and reintroduction.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

Loss of its spray-zone microhabitat after a dam reduced waterfall mist
The amphibian fungal disease chytridiomycosis
An extremely tiny natural range

Why it matters

A toad from one waterfall's spray zone, the Kihansi spray toad shows how a single dam can erase a microhabitat — and how captive breeding can keep a species alive.

Listed Extinct in the Wild; subject of a captive-breeding and reintroduction programme in Tanzania.

Sources

Sources for Kihansi Spray Toad

IUCN Red List — look up Kihansi Spray Toad (authoritative status)
AmphibiaWeb (UC Berkeley)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Kihansi spray toad disappear from the wild?

It depended on the constant mist of the Kihansi waterfall; a dam upstream reduced that spray, and amphibian disease struck, leading to its loss in the wild. Captive colonies preserved the species.

What does 'Extinct in the Wild' mean here?

It means the toad survives only in captivity (and via reintroduction efforts) rather than as a self-sustaining wild population. See the IUCN Red List for the current status.