A review of the scale and sustainability of the consumption and trade of anuran species in Africa

A review of the scale and sustainability of the consumption and trade of anuran species in Africa | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 13 October 2025 V1 Latest version Share on A review of the scale and sustainability of the consumption and trade of anuran species in Africa Authors : Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi 0009-0004-8343-5268 [email protected] , Lauren Coad , Hannah Sackey 0000-0003-4695-171X , Zachary Braithwaite , Danniel Attuquayefio , and Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176035687.76150111/v1 Published Ecology and Evolution Version of record Peer review timeline 213 views 150 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract 1. Anurans are the most exploited amphibians on earth. However, within Africa, exploitation is often recorded as single-site case studies, making it difficult to accurately understand the scale of use, its livelihood importance, and impact on species. 2. We conducted a systematic review to: compile available literature on anuran exploitation in Africa; identify important species and ecoregions; and identify gaps and opportunities for monitoring anuran exploitation. From an initial pool of 3,335 articles, 85 studies on anuran exploitation were reviewed. We augmented this with data from records on levels of anuran trade within CITES from 2012 to 2021, IUCN redlist, UNdata, and WILDMEAT databases. 3. We found 131 amphibian (124 anuran) species belonging to 18 families and 42 genera exploited within Africa. 31.5% of exploited anuran species are only used as food and 2.4% only used in traditional medicine. Another 23.4% are exploited in multiple ways. Larger-bodied species, including Hoplobatrachus occipitalis and Pyxicephalus edulis, are most preferred as food, whereas smaller and colourful ones (mostly in the Mantellidae family) are traded as pets. The use of anurans as food and traditional medicine is concentrated in Guineo-Congolian and Guineo-Sudanian ecoregions, whilst Madagascar & the Indian Ocean dominates the international pet trade. Wild populations of anuran species are collected mainly by local men and sold to intermediaries to supply food and pet markets. African countries import froglegs more than they export possibly, to supply locally based international restaurants. 4. We identified the inability of most international databases to accurately capture the extent of anuran exploitation with literature review identifying 28 additional species missed by these platforms. Also, there are few scientific studies that quantify the impacts of exploitation on anurans in Africa. 5. Synthesis and applications: We recommend the monitoring of anuran exploitation be incorporated into national biodiversity monitoring plans. Title: A review of the scale and sustainability of the consumption and trade of anuran species in Africa Short title: Anura exploitation in Africa Key words: Frogs exploitation, Frog meat, Amphibian trade, Anurans, Frogs of Africa, Frog consumption, Amphibian extinction, Frog trade Authors: Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi 1,4 , Lauren Coad 2,3 , Hannah N. K. Sackey 4 , Zachary Braithwaite 3 , Daniel K. Attuquayefio 1 , Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu 1,4 1. Centre for Biodiversity Conservation ResearchGA-490-3153University of GhanaEmail: [email protected] . Center for International Forestry Research3. University of Oxford4. University of Ghana CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT The authors report there are no competing interests to declare. Supplementary Material File (a review of the scale and sustainability of the consumption and trade of anuran species in africa _resubmission.docx) Download 74.40 KB File (supplementary s1 eligibility criteria of documents for review and detailed extraction processes from each database.docx) Download 25.57 KB File (supplementary s3 exploited species list.docx) Download 38.33 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 13 October 2025 Peer review timeline Published Ecology and Evolution Version of Record 27 Feb 2026 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Ecology and Evolution Keywords description multiple none of the above statistical vertebrate Authors Affiliations Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi 0009-0004-8343-5268 [email protected] University of Ghana View all articles by this author Lauren Coad Oxford University View all articles by this author Hannah Sackey 0000-0003-4695-171X University of Ghana View all articles by this author Zachary Braithwaite University of Oxford View all articles by this author Danniel Attuquayefio University of Ghana View all articles by this author Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu University of Ghana View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 213 views 150 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi, Lauren Coad, Hannah Sackey, et al. A review of the scale and sustainability of the consumption and trade of anuran species in Africa. Authorea . 13 October 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176035687.76150111/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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