Hyperolius fusciventris burtoni (Boulenger, 1883)

Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoudé, Ohler, Annemarie, Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Luiselli, Luca & Dubois, Alain, 2024, Amphibians of Togo: taxonomy, distribution and conservation status, Zoosystema 46 (25), pp. 631-670 : 645

Hyperolius fusciventris burtoni (Boulenger, 1883)

( Fig. 6C )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Togo • 12 ♂, 3 ♀; Agoé; Coll . GHS-W 0151-0154, Coll . GHS-W 0364-0366, Coll . GHS-W 0373-0380 • 5 ♂, 6 ♀; Toglékopé ; MNHN-RA-2006.2541-2547, MNHN-RA-2006.2549-2552 • 5 ♂, 1 ♀; MNHN-RA-1994.4499-4501 • 1 ♀; Kleine Popo (currently Aného ); ZMB 36104 • 1 ♀; Kpalimé ; MNHN-RA-2006.2548 .

DESCRIPTION. — Small frog (SVL 18.4-21.0 mm ♂, 22.5-30.0 mm ♀), more or less robust body. Snout rounded. Head slightly longer than wide (HW 26-35% SVL; HL 30-41% SVL). A barely distinct tympanum covered by skin (TYD 1-1.3 mm). Hind legs moderately long (TL 36-53% SVL). Webbing large, leaving one phalange free; webbing formula: I ½ – 2 II ½ – 1 III ½ – 1 IV 1 – ½ V. Skin evenly smooth throughout the dorsal part and flanks of the animal; belly and chest granular.

COLOURATION. — The colouration of living animals varies from yellowish, green to dark green on the dorsal part of the body, limited by white or yellow strips on the flanks in some specimens (mainly females). The ventral side is white, with black spots from the chest to the vent in females. The underside of the thighs, legs and tarsi are red and black. The web is red and the tip of toes and fingers are yellow.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. — Males have a subgular vocal sac with a round greenish gland.Females are distinctly larger. Both sexes differ from each other in colour.

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — According to Laurent (1961), Hyperolius fusciventris was reported in Togo by Ahl (1931) as Hyperolius rosaceus Ahl, 1931 from Anhéo, Lacs Prefecture ( Tillack et al. 2021). SchiØtz (1963), Bourgat (1979), Rödel (2000) and Segniagbeto et al. (2007) also reported the presence of this species in Togo. It is very common in wetlands in southern Togo, particularly in the rivers and ponds around Lomé (Toglékopé, Djagblé, Amédéhoévé and the swampy areas around Lake Togo). The northernmost record of this species in Togo is on a river next to Yo (Agome Yo) at the bottom of Missahohé Mountain.

TAXONOMIC NOTE. — According to SchiØtz (1967), the taxon Hyperolius fusciventris Peters, 1876 includes three subspecies: Hyperolius fusciventris fusciventris Peters, 1876 , present from Sierra Leone to Côte d’Ivoire; Hyperolius fusciventris lamtoensis SchiØtz, 1965 centred on Côte d’Ivoire; and Hyperolius fusciventris burtoni (Boulenger, 1883) , whose distribution extends from Ghana to Nigeria. However, at some sites two “subspecies” occur in syntopy (M.-O. Rödel, unpubl. data). Such a sympatry would point to reproductive isolation. Therefore new morphological and genetic works should clarify the taxonomy of this complex.

Figures

FIG. 6. — Representatives of anuran species from Togo in life: A, B, Hyperolius concolor (Hallowell, 1844) males (Kalaré); C, Hyperolius fusciventris burtoni (Boulenger, 1883) female (Togblekope); D, Hyperolius igbettensis Schiøtz, 1963 (Kpeisolongo).