Hyperolius olivaceus Peters, 1876 Photo figure 17A

TYPE LOCALITY.— “Limbareni am Ogowe”, Lambaréné, Gabon .

DISTRIBUTION.— This species ranges from the coastal region of Gabon and Republic of Congo to southwestern Equatorial Guinea, where it has been recorded in Río Muni, at lake Atoc, Monte Alén (De la Riva 1994). There are no records of this species from Bioko (Map 17B).

COMMENTS.— Hyperolius olivaceus (formerly considered as a subspecies of H. cinnamomeoventris Bocage, 1886) forms part of the H. cinnamomeoventris species complex. Bell et al. (2015) identified distinct evolutionary lineages within this complex across most part of its distribution and revealed that H. cinnamomeoventris represents a paraphyletic taxon. Subsequently, in order to resolve the taxonomy of the group, Bell et al. (2017) elevated the subspecies H. cinnamomeoventris olivaceus to full species status for the lineages inhabiting the Gabon region and south of the Congo River, which likely includes Río Muni populations (as considered herein). Hyperolius olivaceus is the sister species to a clade formed by the insular Hyperolius thomensis Bocage, 1886, H. molleri (Bedriaga, 1892) and H. drewesi Bell, 2016 (Bell et al. 2017).

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.— Nine specimens. Engong (Aconibe-Asoc), 01 May 1987 (EBD 25089–25093, EBD 25071, 25073–25075) .