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Range Description The species is known from a single specimen, collected 600 m west of the bridge over the Holgat River on the coast of Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa (Channing 2012). The elevation of the type locality is c. 120 m Asl.
Habitat and Ecology The species specimen was located on red sands (Channing 2012), where the vegetation is classified as Northern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld, which is part of the Succulent Karoo Biome (Mucina et al. 2006). It presumably occupies arid sandy habitats similar to Breviceps namaquensis (du Preez and Carruthers 2009). It is a fossorial species that lives in scrub-covered sandy areas. It breeds by direct development, and is not associated with water. Breeding behaviour is unknown, but is presumably similar to other Breviceps species that deposit eggs in shallow burrows (Channing 2001).
Population No population status information is currently available for this species since it is known from only one specimen (Channing 2012). After the discovery of this species, five additional surveys conducted within the area of the type locality by four people each time (last in September 2015) failed to detect the species (J. Measey pers. comm. 2016).
Population Trend unknown
Major Threats The species is presumably threatened by extensive diamond mining in the area in which it was discovered (Channing 2012). Commercial and industrial development is also a threat.
Conservation Actions Conservation Actions
No conservation actions are currently known for this species. Its type locality is not in a protected area.
Research Needed
Studies on its population size, distribution and trends, life history and ecology, and threats are needed.
Red List Status Data Deficient (DD)
Rationale Listed as Data Deficient as it is is known only from one specimen and there is a general lack of information on this species.
Taxonomic Notes This is a newly described species (Channing 2012) from coastal Namaqualand, South Africa. The description is based on morphology and mitochondrial DNA (16S rRNA). The species is most closely related to Breviceps namaquensis.
Citation IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, South African Frog Re-assessment Group (SA-FRoG) 2017. Breviceps branchi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T19520513A19520659. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T19520513A19520659.en .Downloaded on 24 January 2019
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