Tomopterna pulchra ( Boulenger, 1896 )

Willems, Frank & Channing, Alan, 2023, The status of Tomopterna pulchra Boulenger, 1896 (Anura: Pyxicephalidae), Zootaxa 5374 (3), pp. 361-389 : 371-376

Tomopterna pulchra ( Boulenger, 1896)

Eastern Beaded Sand Frog

Rana pulchra Boulenger, 1896 (type BMNH 1947.2.1.36).

Rana (Tomopterna) pulchra — De Witte 1930: 263.

Tomopterna sp. 1 ‘Mutinodo’— Wilson & Channing 2019.

We recognise the material referred to as T. aff. tuberculosa above as Tomopterna pulchra ( Boulenger, 1896) and remove it from the synonymy of Tomopterna tuberculosa ( Boulenger, 1882) , based on genetic differences and habitat.

The type specimen of Tomopterna pulchra (BMNH 1947.2.1.36; Fig. 5 ) is in poor condition. A description of a sequenced specimen of T. pulchra is provided in Appendix 1. The type of T. pulchra was collected by the missionary W.H. Nutt, who was based at Fwambo near south-east Lake Tanganyika ( Anonymous 1896). We assume that this is the type locality, designated as “Lake Tanganyika” in the Natural History Museum (London) catalogue.

Advertisement calls have a mean dominant frequency of 2534 Hz (2067–3100 Hz), with a mean note rate of 9.6 s- 1 (4.8– 12.0 s- 1) n=22.

This species is known to breed in rocky habitats, such as at Muso Hills ( Fig. 6 ). The genus Tomopterna consists of burrowing species, and is generally considered to prefer sandy soils. Tadpoles were discovered living in a film of water on a rocky face, together with those of Ptychadena mutinondoensis ( Channing & Willems 2018: 360) . Calling males in Muso Hills and other sites in the Muchinga Highlands in Zambia were consistently only found along pools and streams in rocky habitats.

Tomopterna pulchra has only been genetically confirmed from eastern Zambia and south-western Tanzania ( Fig. 7 ). Although examination of specimens for the presence-absence of a vertebral stripe suggests that the species might be more widely distributed from southern Zimbabwe to northern Tanzania, including north-west Zambia. Some specimens from eastern Zambia and southern Kenya exhibit no vertebral stipe and require genetic validation.

Figures

FIGURE 5. The holotype of Rana pulchra Boulenger, 1896 BMNH 1947.2.1.36 (Photo J. Streicher).

FIGURE 6. Muso Hills, Zambia rocky habitat and breeding pool (Photos F. Willems).

FIGURE 7. Distribution of genetically confirmed records of T. tuberculosa (blue circles) and T. pulchra (red squares). Type localities indicated by stars. Arid corridor indicated by a dashed line.