At a glance
- IUCN category
- EW · Extinct in the Wild
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Trend unknown
- Last verified
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?
What does 'Extinct in the Wild' mean here?
Last updated: