01230nas a2200169   4500008004100000245014400041210006900185260001500254300001000269490000700279520065700286100002400943700002000967700001900987700001901006856003501025       2003                        eng d00aFirst record of the genus Acanthixalus Laurent, 1944 from the upper Guinean rain forest, West Africa, with the description of a new species0 aFirst record of the genus Acanthixalus Laurent 1944 from the upp  cMarch 2003  a43-520 v373 aWe describe a new species of Acanthixalus from southwestern Ivory Coast Acanthixalus sonjae sp. nov. differs from the Central African Acanthixalus spinosus genetically by 4.6% in the investigated 16S rRNA. Morphologically adult frogs are very similar to A. spinosus. Male A. sonjae have wider heads and probably smaller gular glands than A. spinosus. Tadpoles of A. sonjae differ by much longer tails. Acanthixalus sonjae males are apparently mute. The new species is semiaquatic and lives in large waterfilled cavities of trees in secondary and primary rain forest Tadpoles complete metamorphosis in three months. They are at least partly carnivorous.1 aRödel, Mark-Oliver1 aKosuch, Joachim1 aVeith, Michael1 aErnst, Raffael  u<Go to ISI>://PREV20030058487202313nas a2200205   4500008004100000245004600041210004600087260001500133300001400148490000800162520172000170100001901890700002301909700001601932700002201948700002001970700001901990700001602009856008202025       2003                        eng d00aMultiple overseas dispersal in amphibians0 aMultiple overseas dispersal in amphibians  c7 December  a2435-24420 v2703 aAmphibians are thought to be unable to disperse over ocean barriers because they do not tolerate the osmotic stress of salt water. Their distribution patterns have therefore generally been explained by vicariance biogeography. Here, we present compelling evidence for overseas dispersal of frogs in the Indian Ocean region based on the discovery of two endemic species on Mayotte. This island belongs to the Comoro archipelago, which is entirely volcanic and surrounded by sea depths of more than 3500 m. This constitutes the first observation of endemic amphibians on oceanic islands that did not have any past physical contact to other land masses. The two species of frogs had previously been thought to be non-endemic and introduced from Madagascar, but clearly represent new species based on their morphological and genetic differentiation. They belong to the genera Mantidactylus and Boophis in the family Mantellidae that is otherwise restricted to Madagascar, and are distinguished by morphology and mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences from mantellid species occurring in Madagascar. This discovery permits us to update and test molecular clocks for frogs distributed in this region. The new calibrations are in agreement with previous rate estimates and indicate two further Cenozoic transmarine dispersal events that had previously been interpreted as vicariance: hyperoliid frogs from Africa to Madagascar (Heterixalus) and from Madagascar to the Seychelles islands (Tachycnemis). Our results provide the strongest evidence so far that overseas dispersal of amphibians exists and is no rare exception, although vicariance certainly retains much of its importance in explaining amphibian biogeography.1 aVences, Miguel1 aVieites, David, R.1 aGlaw, Frank1 aBrinkmann, Henner1 aKosuch, Joachim1 aVeith, Michael1 aMeyer, Axel  ufile://localhost/Users/breda/Desktop/Literature/V/Vences%20et%20al%202003.pdf02160nas a2200241   4500008004100000245012100041210006900162260001600231300001200247490000700259520141600266100002101682700002001703700002201723700002001745700002001765700002001785700002001805700001901825700002001844700001901864856003501883       2006                        eng d00aWhat do we know about the amphibians from the Kenyan central and western highlands? A faunistic and taxonomic review0 aWhat do we know about the amphibians from the Kenyan central and  cAug 20 2006  a165-1790 v423 aWe reviewed the pertinent faunistic and taxonomic knowledge available from literature and scientific collections OD the amphibians from the central and western highlands of Kenya. Fifty-four anuran species in 19 genera and 12 families were recognized. Higher taxa are those also found in adjacent African regions. Exceptions are some genera otherwise known from extreme East Africa which, along with the order Gymnophiona, are absent from the central and western highlands of Kenya. The species Ptychadena schillukorum, P taenioscelis and Afrixalus osorioi are reported for the first time from Kenyan territory. The taxonomy of several species is poorly resolved, underlining the need for more alpha-taxonomic effort. This should include the application of modern methods, as molecular markers to uncover cryptic species diversity. We calculated 9.04 +/- 6.11 (1-30) localities per species (n = 54) and 3.98 +/- 2.88 (1-25) species per locality (n = 127), showing that sampling for both species and localities is of different quality and apparently far from complete. Sampling bias due to accessibility may play a role, and more comprehensive field surveys are suggested. It may be considered that certain amphibians reach their geographic range limits just at the periphery of the Kenyan central and western highlands (e.g. "Congolian" forest taxa) or are restricted to a small distribution within that region.1 aLötters, Stefan1 aRotich, Damaris1 aKoester, Timo, E.1 aKosuch, Joachim1 aMuchai, Vincent1 aScheelke, Karin1 aSchick, Susanne1 aTeege, Patrick1 aWasonga, Victor1 aVeith, Michael  u<Go to ISI>://PREV20060062009500737nas a2200193   4500008004100000245019700041210006900238300000900307490000800316100002500324700002000349700001900369700002100388700001900409700001800428700002000446700002400466856005300490       2009                        eng d00aA new squeaker frog (Arthroleptidae: Arthroleptis) from the Cameroon Volcanic Line with redescriptions of Arthroleptis adolfifriederici Nieden, 1911 “1910” and A. variabilis Matschie, 18930 anew squeaker frog Arthroleptidae Arthroleptis from the Cameroon   a1-230 v5151 aBlackburn, David, C.1 aKosuch, Joachim1 aBurger, Marius1 aSchmitz, Andreas1 aWagner, Philip1 aGonwouo, Nono1 aHillers, Annika1 aRödel, Mark-Oliver  uhttps://africanamphibians.myspecies.info/node/6001651nas a2200205   4500008004100000245010500041210006900146260001600215300001200231520099900243100002501242700002001267700002101287700001901308700002101327700001801348700002001366700002401386856003501410       2008                        eng d00aA new species of Cardioglossa (Anura : Arthroleptidae) from the Upper Guinean forests of West Africa0 anew species of Cardioglossa Anura Arthroleptidae from the Upper   cSep 10 2008  a603-6123 aWe describe a new frog species of the genus Cardioglosso from the Upper Guinean forests of West Africa. Cardioglosso occidentalis, new species, is found in primary rainforests in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. We demonstrate that this species is morphologically and genetically distinct from C. leucomystax, the species to which these populations were previously assigned. Cardioglossa occidentalis differs from similar congeners by the following combination of markings: fusion or near fusion of all three dorsal lobes (cephalic, scapular, and lumbar); prominent white line extending anteriorly from arm terminates ventral to eye; dark mask extending posteriorly from eye continues unbroken beyond posterior border of scapular lobe; lateral body covered in very few, large dark spots rimmed with thin white. Cordioglosso occidentalis appears related to C. leucomystax, C. melanoguster, and C. schioetzi. This description brings the number of Cardioglossa species to 16.1 aBlackburn, David, C.1 aKosuch, Joachim1 aSchmitz, Andreas1 aBurger, Marius1 aWagners, Philipp1 aGonwouo, Nono1 aHillers, Annika1 aRödel, Mark-Oliver  u<Go to ISI>://PREV200800591183