Afrixalus weidholzi (Mertens, 1938)

Ayoro, Halamoussa Joëlle, Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoudé, Hema, Emmanuel Midibahaye, Penner, Johannes, Oueda, Adama, Dubois, Alain, Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Kabré, Gustave Boureima & Ohler, Annemarie, 2020, List of amphibian species (Vertebrata, Tetrapoda) of Burkina Faso, Zoosystema 42 (28), pp. 547-582 : 558-560

Afrixalus weidholzi (Mertens, 1938)

( Fig. 4C )

FIELD MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 23 ♂ ( SVL 17.4-21.2 mm); Comoé-Léraba Forest ; 9.82802°N, – 4.62727°W; 230 m a.s.l; 1-7.VIII.2018; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; on grasses in a swampy valley; hand capture • 1 ♂; W National Park, Kabougou River (in its protected part); 11.96865°N, 2.0125°E; 280 m a.s.l.; 19. VI.2018; H. J. Ayoro leg.; in a bush near water body; acoustic report • 1♂; Koubri , downstream from the Nabazana dam; 12.20322°N, – 1.35101°W; 280 m a.s.l.; 17.VII.2017; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; close to a paddy field; acoustic report .

DESCRIPTION. — 23 specimens examined. Frogs with SVL from 17.4-21.2 mm in 23 males, smaller than A. vittiger . Specimens with a yellow or a very intense silvery white back ( Fig. 4C ), often with a fine brown vertebral line, at least in the posterior part of the back. Laterally, a less distinct dark band from the snout to the groin. On the shank, presence of dark brown longitudinal bands.

HABITAT. — This species was usually collected on grass at a height not exceeding 0.5-1.5 m ( Fig. 2D ). During the day, resting animals can be found above water on plants ( Lamotte & Xavier 1981; SchiØtz 1967, 1999). Males call at night, usually on high grasses, a few meters from the pond edges ( Rödel et al. 2006). Afrixalus weidholzi is a common species which has a wide range in West African drier savannah zones ( Rödel 2000; Padial et al. 2013) and occurs occasionally in the same habitats as A. vittiger .

Figures

FIG. 4. — Representatives of anuran species from Burkina Faso in life. A, Hemisus marmoratus (Peters, 1854); B, Afrixalus vittiger (Peters, 1876) C, Afrixalus weidholzi (Mertens,1938); D, Hyperolius concolor concolor (Hallowell, 1844); E, Hyperolius nitidulus Peters, 1875; F, Kassina cassinoides (Boulenger, 1903). Photos: Halamoussa Joëlle Ayoro.

FIG. 2. — Various habitats of amphibian species from Burkina Faso. A, banks of ponds in dry season from W National Park; B, stones on the bank of the Mékrou River in dry season (W National Park);C, shrubby savannah habitats at rainy season from Koubri; D, rainy season shrubby savannah habitats from Comoé-Léraba Forest; E, gallery forest from Kou Forest at Nasso; F, Sahelian swampy valley habitat from Dori (in rainy season). Photos: Halamoussa Joëlle Ayoro.