Taxonomic notes: Poynton and Broadley (1987) referred to true Afrixalus brachycnemis as "Afrixalus sp.". The species that they treated as Afrixalus brachycnemis is now treated as Afrixalus delicatus (M. Pickersgill pers. comm.). This species is a member of the Afrixalus stuhlmanni group (Pickersgill 2005).

This species occurs above 400m asl in northern Mozambique, Malawi, and eastern Zambia, north to southwestern Tanzania in the Rungwa area north of Lake Rukwa. There are very few records from the northern part of its range, presumably due to lack of survey work, and its distributional limits are still poorly known.

It is common wherever it is the only dwarf Afrixalus species present. Where it is sympatric with Afrixalus delicatus, this species always appears to be the more rare of the two, and its populations are much smaller, with numbers of calling males at several sites estimated to be less 50 individuals. It might be in long-term decline as a result of unsuccessful competition with Afrixalus delicatus, which appears to be an aggressive competitor.

It is a species of grassy pools and marshes in moist grassland and savannah. It can survive in anthropogenic habitats. It breeds in ephemeral ponds and with dense peripheral vegetation.

There are no reports of this species being utilized.

It is unlikely to be seriously threatened, although it might be in long-term decline as a result of unsuccessful competition with Afrixalus delicatus, which appears to be an aggressive competitor. Some populations might be impacted by agricultural spread. Chemical spraying to control mosquitoes might impact some populations.

• 9.3.3 Herbicides and pesticides
• 8.2 Problematic native species/diseases
• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming

It probably occurs in several protected areas.

• 2.1 Site/area management

Listed as Least Concern in view of its relatively wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats and its presumed large population.

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• Channing, A. and Howell, K.M. 2006. Amphibians of East Africa. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main.
• Pickersgill, M. 1992. A new species of Afrixalus (Amphibia, Anura, Hyperoliidae) from eastern Africa. Steenstrupia: 145-148.
• Pickersgill, M. 2000. The ethology and systematics of eastern and southern African savanna Afrixalus (Anura: Hyperoliidae). Unpublished MSc thesis, University of Leeds.
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