Phrynobatrachus gastoni Barbour and Loveridge, 1928
This species was named for Dr. Gaston de Witte, who examined the type material and confirmed that it was a new species. Barbour and Loveridge (1928) honored him for his contributions to African herpetology by naming this species for him.
Phrynobatrachus gastoni is a medium sized (snout–vent length 30 mm) species of puddle frog known only from the type locality in in north-central Democratic Republic of Congo. Members of this genus are identified by the presence of a midtarsal tubercle, elongate inner metatarsal tubercle, and outer metatarsal tubercle. Phrynobatrachus gastoni exhibits moderately webbed toes (approximately 3 phalanges free of webbing on toe IV), a visible tympanum, and lack of digital discs.
The IUCN Red List (2009) categorizes this species as Data Deficient in view of the absence of recent information on its extent of occurrence, status and ecological requirements (Pickersgill, 2004).
It has not been recorded from any protected areas (Pickersgill, 2004).
There is no information on threats to this species (Pickersgill, 2004).
Other species from northern Democratic Republic of Congo include P. albomarginatus, P. giorgii, P. parkeri, and P. perpalmatus. P. congicus is also reported from Democratic Republic of Congo, but more specific locality information is lacking.
This is a medium-sized species with stout habitus and obtusely pointed snout. A median conical papilla is present on the tongue. The head is as long as it is broad; both measurements are 10 mm in the holotype. The canthus rostralis is rounded, and the loreal region is scarcely concave. The nostril is much closer to the tip of the snout than the eye. The interorbital space is as broad as the upper eyelid. No fold is present at the posterior border of the eye. The tympanum is visible. The large tarsal tubercle is connected to the large inner metatarsal tubercle by a narrow skin fold. A small, round outer metatarsal is also present. Finger and toe tips may be slightly dilated but are not expanded into discs. Subarticular tubercles are well developed. Manual webbing is absent. Pedal webbing is moderate with one-quarter to one-third webbed (approximately 3 phalanges free of webbing on toe IV). The tibio-tarsal articulation of the adpressed hind limb reaches the anterior border of the eye. The skin is rugose and warty on the dorsum with a pair of prominent glands in the scapular region at the level of the forelimb insertion. The skin on the venter is smooth (Barbour and Loveridge, 1928).
Dorsum is grayish-brown, marbled with slightly darker color. A lighter transverse band is present in the interorbital space. The sides of the head and limbs are lighter than the back. The limbs are conspicuously barred. The venter is white, and the throat is finely stippled with dusky specks, which coalesce to form irregular patches on the upper and lower lips and a band across the chest (Barbour and Loveridge, 1928).
The snout-vent length of the holotype, an adult female, measures 30 mm (Barbour and Loveridge, 1928).
The stomach of the holotype contained Pheidole ants (Barbour and Loveridge, 1928).
This species is known only from the type locality, Buta, in north-central Democratic Republic of Congo (Pickersgill, 2004).
There is no information on its habitat and ecological preferences (Pickersgill, 2004).
There is no information on the population status of this species, and there have been no subsequent records of it since its discovery, presumably due to a lack of herpetological work within its range (Pickersgill, 2004).