Spelaeophryne methneri Ahl, 1924
This species was named in honour of the collector.
It is listed as Least Concern in view of its reasonably wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.
Body form ungainly; two short, skinny longitudinal folds between the choanae; one smooth skin fold in front of the pharynx; tongue large, oval, clipped posteriorly; Head broader than long; snout rounded, projecting beyond the mouth, a bit longer than the eye diameter; rein area [Zügelgegend; no idea what that means, cheeks maybe?] fairly steep, concave; canthus rostralis not very conspicuous; nostril laterally, almost situated on tip of the snout; interorbital distance more than twice as broad than an upper eyelid; ear drum conspicuous, 2/3 the eye diameter; finger and toes slightly swollen, ending bluntly; first finger slighly shorter than the second, which is as long as the fourth; the third finger (measured from the carpals) as long as the snout and the eye diameter; toes without webbing; outer metatarsalia firmly connected; a hardly recognisable, inner, oval metatarsal tubercle [present]; subarticular tubercle conspicuous; with leg bend forwards alongside the body the tarsometatarsal joint reaches the base of the upper arm; body length 3 4/5 times the femur, [femur] longer than the tibia, tibia twice as long as broad, contained almost 5 times in the body length and slightly shorter than the foot; with rectangular adpressed legs the heels are not in contact; skin with fine warts above, below almost smooth.
Colouration (in alcohol) a dark chocolate brown above; small whitish spots scattered all over the body; the whole upper side of the head from between the eyes forward, including the upper eyelids, milky white; underside slightly lighter brown.
This species occurs in southeastern Tanzania from the Uluguru Mountains, southwest to Mount Rungwe and Songea, and southeast to Nchingidi.
It is irregular in occurrence, but this is probably because it is overlooked because of its very secretive habits.
It lives in lowland and submontane forest and miombo woodland, where it burrows into logs in dry season. It occurs at both low and high altitudes up to 1,600m asl, perhaps more. It is not known whether or not it can tolerate any degradation of its habitat.
Its breeding requirements are unknown, though it is presumed to be by direct development.