Sclerophrys togoensis ( Ahl, 1924 )

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 : 639-640

Sclerophrys togoensis ( Ahl, 1924)

( Fig. 4C )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Togo • 4 ♂, 1 ♀; Bismarckburg (currently Yégué in Adélé ); ZMB 27010, ZMB 27011 (3 specimens) • 1 ♀; Diguengue ; ZMB 77821 .

DESCRIPTION. — Medium to large toad (SVL 47.2-55.5 mm ♂, 61.4 mm ♀), with somewhat stocky body. Snout rounded. Head wider than long (HW 37-39% SVL; HL 33-36% SVL). Tympanum distinct (TYD 6-7% SVL). Tibia short (TL 41-43% SVL). Webbing small, leaving about three phalanges free; webbing formula: I 1 – 2 II 1 – 3 III 2 – 3 ½ IV 3 ½ – 2 V. Skin with flat warts on the back; flanks, thighs and legs short with warts bearing horny spinules. Belly granular. Parotoid glands narrow, long, almost smooth, nearly touching the eyelids.

COLOURATION. — The dorsal colouration is characterised by brownish, whitish and black spots of irregular shapes. There is a transverse whitish band at the orbital level. The snout and anterior end of the head are brownish. The flanks have a brown to whitish spotted pattern. The dorsal part of forearm, arm, thigh and foot exhibit brown and whitish transverse bands.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. — The males have a subgular vocal sac indicated by a black colouration. They are often more robust and their forelegs stronger than those of females.

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — The current knowledge of this species in Togo is based on two new vouchers collected in Diguengué. Beside the specimens used in the original description ( Ahl 1924), its presence has also been reported by Bourgat (1979) in Tinkoro (now Tintro in Adélé). No further mention of the species has been made in recent works on the herpetofauna of Togo and adjacent Ghana ( Rödel & Agyei 2003; Leaché et al. 2006; Hillers et al. 2009). However, this species has been frequently found in the rainforests of the western part of the Upper Guinea forest zone (e.g. Rödel & Bangoura 2004; Rödel & Glos 2019; Gongomin et al. 2019). The current conservation status of this species in Togo is presumably critical because of the strong degradation of the remaining forests.

Figures

FIG. 4. — Representatives of anuran species from Togo in life: A, Sclerophrys maculata (Hallowell, 1854) (Kalaré, Fazao Malfakassa); B, Sclerophrys regularis (Reuss, 1833) (Adjarala); C, Sclerophrys togoensis (Ahl, 1924) (Diguendue); D, Conraua derooi Hulselmans, 1972 (Yikpa-Dzigbe); E, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis (Günther, 1859) (Akloa); F, Hemisus marmoratus (Peters, 1854) (Kpalimé).