02160nas 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>://PREV20060062009501169nas a2200145   4500008004100000245010700041210006900148260001600217300001200233490000700245520069700252100002000949700001900969856003500988       2007                        eng d00aDescription of the tadpole of Mertensophryne lonnbergi (Anura : Bufonidae) from the highlands of Kenya0 aDescription of the tadpole of Mertensophryne lonnbergi Anura Buf  cNov 20 2007  a239-2440 v433 aThe tadpole of Mertensophryne lonnbergi is described from the Aberdare Mountains in Kenya. Although it resembles other African bufonid tadpoles in shape, size and color, it can be distinguished from them by the absence of a gap in the posterior oral papillae, a feature also shared by Mertensophryne anotis and M. micranotis. While the other known tadpoles in this genus (M. anotis, M. taitana, M. micranotis) all share a ’’ crowrn ’’, a ring of tissue surrounding the eyes and nostrils with a presumed respiratory function, M. lonnbergi has a faint trace of a crown, and skin folds forming transverse ripples behind the eyes, which may also serve to increase the respiratory surface.1 aWasonga, Victor1 aChanning, Alan  u<Go to ISI>://PREV20080010690201178nas a2200169   4500008004100000245006700041210006600108260001300174300001000187490000700197520067900204100002000883700002000903700002100923700002900944856003500973       2007                        eng d00aAmphibian abundance and diversity in Meru National Park, Kenya0 aAmphibian abundance and diversity in Meru National Park Kenya  cMar 2007  a55-610 v453 a{The diversity and abundance of amphibians were investigated in Meru National Park, Kenya, using transect sampling, drift-fence and pitfall trapping and opportunistic collecting. A total of 430 individuals under seven genera (Amietophrynus, Hemisus, Hyperolius, Phrynobatrachus, Phrynomantis, Ptychadena, Xenopus) comprising eleven species were sampled in three different habitats (apart from this, two additional species are known from Meru National Park): Acacia-wooded grassland; Combretum-wooded grassland; Acacia-Commiphora bushland. The sex ratio for almost all species was balanced (chi-square, chi(2); P > 0.5) and was not affected by habitat type (ANOVA: F = 8.30261 aWasonga, Victor1 aBekele, Afework1 aLötters, Stefan1 aBalakrishnan, Mundanthra  u<Go to ISI>://PREV200700195265