Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 2002 |
Authors: | M. - O. Rödel, Ernst R. |
Journal: | Journal of Herpetology |
Volume: | 36 |
Pagination: | 561-571 |
Date Published: | December |
Abstract: | We describe a new species of Phrynobatrachus from the Western part of the Upper Guinean rain forest, West Africa. Phrynobatrachus phyllophilus sp. nov. differs from all other known West African Phrynobatrachus by a combination of morphological and acoustical characters. It is most similar to Phrynobatrachus guineensis from which P. phyllophilus is distinguished by its almost white belly, presence of only one dark bar on femur and tibia, shape of the thumb in reproductive males, advertisement call, reproductive mode, and selection of different forest types. Phrynobatrachus phyllophilus is the first known species of the genus that deposits small clutches of eggs rich in yolk on leaves, in close vicinity to extremely small puddles on the forest floor. Its preferred habitats are swampy areas of primary rain forest. We also describe the tadpole of P. phyllophilus and the advertisement call of P. guineensis. |
A new Phrynobatrachus from the Upper Guinean rain forest, West Africa, including a description of a new reproductive mode for the genus
Taxonomic name:
Phrynobatrachus gutturosus (Chabanaud, 1921) (Amphibians), Phrynobatrachus plicatus (Günther, 1858) (Amphibians), Phrynobatrachus liberiensis Barbour and Loveridge, 1927 (Amphibians), Phrynobatrachus alleni Parker, 1936 (Amphibians), Phrynobatrachus annulatus Perret, 1966 (Amphibians), Phrynobatrachus villiersi Guibé, 1959 (Amphibians), Phrynobatrachus guineensis Guibé and Lamotte, 1962 (Amphibians), Phrynobatrachus tokba (Chabanaud, 1921) (Amphibians), Phrynobatrachus phyllophilus Rödel and Ernst, 2002 (Amphibians), Phrynobatrachus fraterculus (Chabanaud, 1921) (Amphibians), Chiromantis xerampelina Peters, 1854 (Amphibians)