Phrynobatrachus versicolor Ahl, 1924
This species is named for the Latin 'versare' meaning to change and 'color,' referring to its various dorsal colors.
Phrynobatrachus versicolor is a medium to large sized species (SVL 25-40 mm) of puddle frog from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Members of this genus are identified by the presence of a midtarsal tubercle, elongate inner metatarsal tubercle, and outer metatarsal tubercle. Phrynobatrachus versicolor is characterized by a distinct tympanum and variable dorsal coloration. The venter is uniform white, pinkish or yellowish with vermiculated or mottled brown. A more or less distinct median line may be present, extending from the tip of the lower jaw through the chest area and sometimes beyond. Minute spines are present on the soles of the feet in both sexes.
The IUCN Red List (2009) categorizes this species as Vulnerable because its Extent of Occurrence is less than 20,000 km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its forest habitat in the Albertine Rift Mountains (Drewes and Pickersgill, 2004).
It has been recorded from Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kibale National Park in Uganda, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda (Drewes and Pickersgill, 2004).
There is little information available regarding this species, though it is likely to be impacted by loss of habitat for agriculture, including both raising crops and livestock, wood extraction, and human settlements (Drewes and Pickersgill, 2004).
Populations of this species are decreasing (Drewes and Pickersgill, 2004).
Phrynobatrachus versicolor is characterized by a distinct tympanum and variable dorsal coloration.Venter is uniform white, pinkish or yellowish with vermiculated or mottled brown. A more or less distinct median line may be present, extending from the tip of the lower jaw through the chest area and sometimes beyond. Digital discs are present on fingers and toes, but are less developed on toes. Minute spines are present on the soles of the feet in both sexes, but are larger in males.
P. versicolor is largely aquatic (Laurent, 1964).
Mitochodrial sequence data from 12S rRNA, valine-tRNA, and 16S rRNA fragment, as well as combined sequence data from mitochondrial and nuclear (RAG-1) genes indicate that P. versicolor the sister species of P. petropedetoides, and these species are in turn sister to other large-bodies puddle frogs from the Albertine Rift, including P. acutirostris and P. dendrobates (Zimkus, 2010). This group is also hypothesized to include P. dalcqui, P. irangi, and P. sulfureogularis, and in turn is sister to P. krefftii from East Africa.
It is most similar to those large species restricted to the Albertine Rift and East Africa, including P. acutirostris, P. asper, P. dalcqui, P. dendrobates, P. krefftii, P. petropedetoides, and P. sulfureogularis. P. versicolor is rather stout with sturdy limbs and is similar in body form to P. krefftii. It differs by having a longer snout than eye diameter, interorbital space broader than upper eyelid and less developed pedal webbing. This species is also similar to the P. dendrobates and is distinguished by its more stocky and robust body with shorter fingers and tibiae, digital discs that are less developed, and the position of the nostril located at a greater distance from the eye the tip of the snout.
De Witte (1941) reports snout-vent lengths ranging from 27-40 mm or males (N=50) and 32-41 for females (N=50). Loveridge (1942) finds lengths of 25-28 mm for males and 25-34 mm for females, with an average of 29.7 mm for both sexes (N=52).
This species occurs in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, western Rwanda, north-western Burundi and south-western Uganda (Drewes and Pickersgill, 2004).
It is a leaf-litter species of mountain forest that is particularly associated with swamps and rivulets and occurs only in undisturbed habitats. It probably occurs mainly above 1,500m asl and ranges to at least 2,300m asl. (Drewes and Pickersgill, 2004).
Loveridge (1942) does not doubt that this is a forest-associated species but notes that the majority of individuals collected from the he Kigezi district were found in deforested uplands. According to Laurent (1964), P. versicolor from the Itombwe Highlands are most commonly found in the peaty bogs and exists less frequently in the brooks that come down from the hills through bamboo woods and light gallery forest.
In Uganda, the species is common in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest but is uncommon in Kibale Forest (Drewes and Pickersgill, 2004).
The eggs are laid, and the larvae develop, in swamps and rivulets within montane forests (Drewes and Pickersgill, 2004).