Ptychadena aequiplicata (Werner, 1898)

Badjedjea, Gabriel, Masudi, Franck M., Akaibe, Benjamin Dudu & Gvoždík, Václav, 2022, Amphibians of Kokolopori: an introduction to the amphibian fauna of the Central Congolian Lowland Forests, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 301) 16 (1), pp. 35-70 : 59

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.12761585

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12761735

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038887AC-FFD9-D40D-7B5A-FBFAFEDDFE0F

treatment provided by

Felipe (2024-04-30 14:22:51, last updated 2024-11-26 01:27:05)

scientific name

Ptychadena aequiplicata (Werner, 1898)
status

 

Ptychadena aequiplicata (Werner, 1898) View in CoL

Fig. 10D View Fig .

Area: Bechuchuu, Yalokole.

Season/survey: Wet (May 2018, Nov 2018), dry (Aug 2019, Jul 2020).

Material: CSB:Herp: RNBK 123, 735, 752, 803, 806, 833, 834; IVB-H-CD 18293.

Comments: Ptychadena aequiplicata is characterized by extended dark (blackish) webbing and numerous shorter irregular dorsal glandular ridges/folds ( Frétey et al. 2011; Channing and Rödel 2019). This species has been reported from West Africa (with taxonomic uncertainty, possibly representing an undescribed species) to western Central Africa, and only from the westernmost margin of DRC ( Channing and Rödel 2019; IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2019). However, P. aequiplicata is relatively widespread in western to central DRC (unpub. data), and our records from Kokolopori represent a substantial geographic range extension eastward to the Central Congolian forests. We have also recorded this species further east, around Kisangani. It is possible that this species is even more widespread, distributed throughout the Congo Basin and entering Uganda. This is indicated by the published record from “Ituri: Madié” [= Medje, Haut-Uélé] ( Boulenger 1919), if the identification was correct, and by photographs showing “ P. christyi ” ( Channing and Rödel 2019: p. 341) from Budongo, Uganda ( T.M. Doherty-Bone, pers. comm.), but morphologically corresponding to P. aequiplicata . This hypothesis needs to be further tested, but it is already evident that the species is distributed at least to central and northeastern DRC. Ptychadena aequiplicata is probably the most strongly associated with forest habitats of all the representatives of this genus. It appears to be relatively rare in Kokolopori, and it was only found in primary forest.

Boulenger GA. 1919. Batraciens et reptiles recueillis par le Dr. C. Christy au Congo Belge dans les Districts de Stanleyville, Haut-Uele et Ituri en 1912 - 1914. Revue Zoologique Africaine 7: 1 - 29.

Channing A, Rodel M-O. 2019. Field Guide to the Frogs and Other Amphibians of Africa. Struik Nature, Cape Town, South Africa. 408 p.

Fretey T, Dewynter M, Blanc CP. 2011. Amphibiens d'Afrique Centrale et d'Angola. Cle de Determination Illustree des Amphibiens du Gabon et du Mbini. Biotope, Mѐze (Collection Parthenope) and Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. 232 p.

IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. 2019. Ptychadena aequiplicata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e. T 58489 A 18398710.

Gallery Image

Fig. 10. Phrynobatrachids (Phrynobatrachus), ptychadenids (Ptychadena), and a pyxicephalid (Aubria). (A) Phrynobatrachus sp. aff. auritus (male). (B) Ph. cf. giorgii (male). (C) Ph. cf. auritus (male). (D) Ptychadena aequiplicata (female). (E) Pt. christyi (male), extralimital specimen from Mosite (0.956°N, 23.560°E). (F) Pt. perreti (male). (G) Pt. sp. aff. mascareniensis (male). (H) Aubria masako (male).

T

Tavera, Department of Geology and Geophysics

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Amphibia

Order

Anura

Family

Ptychadenidae

Genus

Ptychadena