01348nas a2200145   4500008004100000245006900041210006400110260001600174300000900190490000700199520091700206100002001123700002401143856003501167       2007                        eng d00aThe amphibians of three national forests in Liberia, West Africa0 aamphibians of three national forests in Liberia West Africa  cFeb 20 2007  a1-100 v433 aWe surveyed three National Forests in north-western and south-eastern Liberia for amphibians. Forty species were found including five first national records: Afrixalus nigeriensis, Astylosternus occidentalis, Bufo superciliaris, Chiromantis rufescens and Phrynobatrachus villiersi. Following the 1UCN Red List categories and criteria, eleven species are Near Threatened, two are Vulnerable and two Endangered. Bufo superciliaris is listed under CITES. All three forests under investigation harbour an amphibian community mainly consisting of forest specialists that are endemic to the Upper Guinea Forest zone. All investigated sites showed a high potential for conservation, although the presence of some invasive species is a hint that alteration of natural forests has already occurred. We also provide a list of all reptiles encountered to account for the deficiency of data for these vertebrates in Liberia.1 aHillers, Annika1 aRödel, Mark-Oliver  u<Go to ISI>://PREV20080010692001875nas a2200193   4500008004100000245009200041210006900133260001700202300001000219490000600229520127900235100002101514700002401535700002401559700001901583700002001602700002401622856003501646       2006                        eng d00aBiodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the West African Togo Hills0 aBiodiversity in a forest island reptiles and amphibians of the W  cFal-Win 2006  a22-450 v43 a<p>Our recent surveys of the herpetological diversity of the West African Togo Hills documented a total of 65 reptile and amphibian species, making Kyabobo National Park one of the most diverse sites surveyed in Ghana. We provide accounts for all species recorded along with photographs to aid in identification. We recorded 26 amphibians, including six new records for Kyabobo N. P., one of which is a record for the Togo Hills. Our collection of reptile species (22 lizards, 16 snakes, and one crocodile) also provides new records and range extensions for Kyabobo N. P., such as the first observation of the dwarf crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis. Amphibian species still lacking from our surveys in the Togo Hills include several species that are adapted to fast running water or large closed forests, like the Togo toad, Bufo togoensis and the slippery frog, Conraua derooi. Appropriate habitat for such species still remains in Kyabobo, highlighting the need for additional survey work. We draw attention to the importance of conserving forest stream habitats, which will in turn help ensure the persistence of forest-restricted species. We also highlight those species that may prove most useful for evolutionary studies of West African rain forest biogeography.</p>
1 aLeache, Adam, D.1 aRödel, Mark-Oliver1 aLinkem, Charles, W.1 aDiaz, Raul, E.1 aHillers, Annika1 aFujita, Matthew, K.  u<Go to ISI>://PREV20070034782800737nas 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>://PREV20080059118301398nas a2200157   4500008004100000245008900041210006900130260001600199300001200215490000700227520090700234100002001141700002001161700002401181856003501205       2008                        eng d00aA preliminary assessment of the amphibians of the Fouta Djallon, Guinea, West Africa0 apreliminary assessment of the amphibians of the Fouta Djallon Gu  cMay 20 2008  a113-1220 v443 aWe report oil the amphibians of three sites in the Fouta Djallon highlands in central-northern Guinea. During Our Survey we recorded at least 25 frog species, including two first country records (Kassina fusca and Leptopelis bufonides) and one species new to science (Conraua sp.). Most of the recorded frogs were typical savanna or farmbush species with a distribution range that exceeds West Africa. Only a few species were more closely connected to forest habitats. For several species our records in the Fouta Djallon represent large range extensions. Despite the generally high degradation level of forests in the Fouta Djallon, the investigated sites all still harboured typical forest frogs and thus may represent last islands of forest in a nowadays savanna dominated landscape. All sites therefore have a high potential for conservation, especially the forest surrounding the Saala Waterfalls.1 aHillers, Annika1 aLoua, Nema-Soua1 aRödel, Mark-Oliver  u<Go to ISI>://PREV20080049053801777nas a2200157   4500008004100000245009400041210006900135260001300204300001200217490000700229520128500236100002001521700001901541700002401560856003501584       2008                        eng d00aEffects of forest fragmentation and habitat degradation on west African leaf-litter frogs0 aEffects of forest fragmentation and habitat degradation on west   cJun 2008  a762-7720 v223 aHabitat degradation alters the dynamics and composition of anuran assemblages in tropical forests. The effects of forest fragmentation on the composition of anuran assemblages are so far poorly known. We studied the joint influence of forest fragmentation and degradation on leaf-litter frogs. We specifically asked whether the processes structuring leaf-litter anuran assemblages in fragmented forests are the same as those in continuous forests. We analyzed anuran assemblages with respect to habitat characteristics, including fragmentation and degradation parameters. In comparison with continuous forests, species richness and diversity were lower and assemblage composition was altered in forest fragments. These changes seemed to be mainly caused by habitat degradation rather than forest fragmentation. Availability of aquatic sites for breeding, vegetation structure (including those variables indicating degradation), and leaf-litter cover bad the most influence on the presence of single species. The comparatively small impact of fragmentation on anurans might be due to the location of the study area; it still possessed large tracts of continuous forest. These forest blocks may stabilize the regional rainforest climate and thus weaken the effects of fragmentation.1 aHillers, Annika1 aVeith, Michael1 aRödel, Mark-Oliver  u<Go to ISI>://PREV200800447588