The amphibian fauna of the East African rainforests Including the description of a new species of toad genus Nectophrynoides Noble 1926 Anura Bufonidae

The East African rainforests are areas of prime biogeographical importance. The significance of the amphibian fauna of the region as a biogeographical indicator group, first recognized by Schiotz (1981) is reiterated. Schiotz’ 1981 list of East african rainforest amphibians is corrected and updated. A new species of dwarf toad [Nectophrynoides wendyae sp. nov.] from the rainforest of the Uzungwe Mountains, Tanzania is described. The new species is tentatively assigned to the genus Nectophrynoides Noble 1926, and comment on the relationships of the new species and of the Nectophrynoides-Didynamipus group is included. It is suggested that many of the African bufonid genera, especially those including dwarf forms, are currently poorly defined; primitive characters, characters involving the loss of structures and characters subject to a high level of homoplasy often being used. Some possible solutions to this problem are given. The need for a better understanding of the biology of rainforest Amphibia, especially the dwarf species, is seen to be of more immediate importance than the question of their relationships.