Hoplophryne uluguruensis Barbour and Loveridge, 1928  

This species is known from the type locality, the Uluguru Mountains, with additional records in the Nguru, Udzungwa and Mahenge Mountains in eastern Tanzania (S. Loader pers. comm. June 2012). It is a montane species with different elevational ranges across each mountain [i.e. Nguru (1,800 m asl), Mahenge (1,050-1,500 m asl), and Udzungwa (1,120 m asl); in the Ulugurus, the elevations vary from about 900-2,300 m asl; S. Loader pers. comm. June 2012]. It is unlikely to extend much further than its currently understood range (S. Loader pers. comm. June 2012). It is considered to occur in four threat-defined locations (S. Loader pers. comm. June 2012). Taking range as a proxy for extent of occurrence (EOO), this is estimated to be 903 km².

This species is known from a number of areas within the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, including Nguru South, Nguu, Uluguru and Udzungwa Mountains. For more specific information regarding range within the Eastern Arc Mountains, see:

http://www.tanzaniaherps.org/references.asp?id=266&f=

Clavicle is represented by a minute moon-shaped nodule just mesial of the acromion process. Procoracoids are present as a thin cartilaginous bar in both sexes of uluguruensis. Omosternum is reduced to a mere cartilaginous nodule. Coracoids are well developed, bony, united by cartilage on the median line. A small, cartilaginous, expanded metasternum is present. Sacral diapophyses are very well dilated. Terminal phalanges T-shaped (Barbour and Loveridge, 1928).

Habit is moderately stout and small. Snout is subacuminate, and the mouth extends backwards beyond a vertical line from the posterior border of thfe eye. Interorbital space is three times the width of the upper eyelid, anteriorly a little more than twice. Arms (after preserved) are permanently bent inwards close to breast. The position of first finger is indicated only by a swelling, the second a sllightly shorter than fourth and a little more than half as long as the third. All three fingers are unwebbed and broadened at the tips without actual disks. Toes (five) are well developed and free of webbing. First toe is about half the length of second, which is half the length of the third; third is slightly longer than fifth, fourth is much longer than the rest. A very small, flat, ill-defined, inconspicuous, inner metatarsal tubercle is present. Hind limb is well developed. The tibio-tarsal articulation of the adpressed hind limb just reaches the posterior border of the eye. Skin is perfectly smooth above and below but covered with minute papillary tubercles dorsally. Numerous small tubercles border both the upper and lower lips, the region between mouth and forearm and the anterior part of the chest. A rosette of spines with nine points is present on either side of the chest, which is normally hidden by the forearms. A group of three spines is present on the site of the first finger (prepollex region), and adjacent to it on the back of the second finger (first functional finger) is another group of five spines. On the outer aspect of the tibia and foot are additional spines, about thirty-two on tibia and sixteen on the foot. These characters are sexual, and absent in the female (Barbour and Loveridge, 1928).

In life, dorsum is black, finely speckled with silvery white. One paratype had a bright, pale green dorsum with hind limbs of orange-brown; two others were dark olive-green, and yet another a reddish, almost orange, brown (Barbour and Loveridge, 1928). A series os speckles along the vertebral line almost confluent giving the appearance of a fine dorsal line; a similar line on each side from snout over eye along the side to hind limb. A black band, light-edged on both sides, obliquely crosses the thigh, and continues across tibia and foot (these black bands are not always visible on the limbs as they show only if darker than the body colour). Some white dots on the sides of the face are very conspicuous. Venter is brownish-black with silvery specklings, mostly on chin and throat (Barbour and Loveridge, 1928).

In alcohol, dorsum is brownish-black with a purplish bloom and indistinct light specks; a concentration of these forms a fine vertebral line, an uninterrupted irregular light lateral line from eye to knee of hind limb. A dark band is bordered on both sides by lighter, crosses the thigh obliquely and is continued on tibia. Venter is grey-brown, spotted with lighter on throat and with whitish vermiculations elsewhere (Barbour and Loveridge, 1928).