Phrynomantis microps Peters, 1875

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 : 562

Phrynomantis microps Peters, 1875

( Fig. 5D )

COLLECTION MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 4 ♂ ( SVL 38.2- 38.6 mm); Kourweogo province , Laye; 12.53081°N, – 1.77155°W; 290 m a.s.l.; VIII.1968; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHN-RA-2000.5667, 2000.5660, 2000.5657, 2000.5659 • 1 ♂ ( SVL 41.1 mm); Sanemantenga province , Kossoghin; 13.29944°N, – 1.05088°W; 320 m a.s.l.; VIII.1966; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHN-RA-1995.7090 .

FIELD MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 1 ♂ ( SVL 38.2 mm); Arly National Park , the floodplain; 11.57852°N, 1.46004°E; 255 m a.s.l.; 16. VI.2018; H. J. Ayoro leg.; near a small water body; hand capture • 1 ♀ ( SVL 42.5 mm); Koti ; 11.38788°N, – 3.06401°W; 310 m a.s.l.; 15.IX.2018; same collector as for preceding; in a peanut field; hand capture • 1 ♂ ( SVL 42.3 mm), 1 ♀ ( SVL 51.4 mm); Folonzo village swampy valley; 9.95777°N, – 4.67455°W; 240 m a.s.l.; 6.VIII.2018; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; anthill and scorpion’s holes; hand capture • 2 ♂; on the edge of Pabré dam; 12.51597°N, – 1.59923°W; 290 m a.s.l.; 11-12.VII.2017; same collectors as for preceding; under the trees near the dam; acoustic report • 1 ♂; near the “ Ancien barrage”; 12.22843°N, – 1.34766°W; 285 m a.s.l.; 16.VII.2017; same collectors as for preceding; acoustic report • 1 ♂; in the Koubri monaster reserve around the Monastery Hostel; 12.21687°N, – 1.35048°W; 280 m a.s.l.; 17.VII.2017; same collectors as for preceding; acoustic report • 1♂; W National Park , near PK-27 bouli; 11.88744°N, 2.11913°W; 265 m a.s.l.; 20. VI.2018; H. J. Ayoro leg.; acoustic report • 1 ♂; the Kabougou village swampy valley; 11.96075°N, 1.99744°E; 280 m a.s.l.; 22. VI.2018; same collector as for preceding; near paddy field; acoustic report • 3 ♂; Kou Forest ; 11.18888°N, – 4.43944°W; 260 m a.s.l.; 7-9.VIII.2018; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; in the savannah part and at the edge of this forest; acoustic report • Ioba province , Djikologo (close to Bontioli reserve); 10.94253°N, – 3.15788°W; 260 m a.s.l.; J. Penner leg. • Dano , Gbagba; 11.18133°N, – 3.05159°W; 300 m a.s.l.; 2011; J. Penner leg.; field direct observation .

LITERATURE REPORTS. — Burkina Faso • Yako ; 12.96744°N, – 2.26155°W; 330 m a.s.l.; 18.VIII.1961 ( SchiØtz 1967) • Gourma province, Fada N’gourma ; 12.06051°N, 0.34913°E; 300 m a.s.l.; 1983, I-III.2008 ( Böhme et al. 1996; Mohneke et al. 2011) • Ganzourgou province, Mogtedo ; 12.31844°N, – 0.83601°W; 280 m a.s.l. (Mohneke 2011; Mohneke et al. 2011) • Zorgho; 12.2483°N, – 0.6278°W; 300 m a.s.l.; I-III.2008 (Mohneke 2011; Mohneke et al. 2011) .

DESCRIPTION. — 9 specimens examined. Size within the range given by Rödel (2000). Characterized by a unique body shape and a red back ( Fig. 5D ). Presence of a fine dark brown vertebral line on the back. In alcohol, the red colouration getting a greyish.

HABITAT. — The species calls often below shrubs and from holes. In Comoé-Léraba Forest, males were collected in shrubs on the edge of a large dark scorpion hole where they were calling. It was also found on the edge of water under a tree. A female was found on an anthill ready to withdraw into a hole. The species has been reported to often occur within ant nests and scorpion burrows ( Rödel & Braun 1999; Rödel et al. 2013).

It is known that P. microps colonizes various savannah habitats including dense tree savannah where it is found in flooded meadows, in ponds and swamps ( SchiØtz 1967; Rödel 2000; Hirschfeld & Rödel 2011). Barej et al. (2017) reported its occurence in West and Central Africa.

Figures

FIG. 5. — Representatives of anuran species from Burkina Faso in life. A, Kassina fusca Schiøtz, 1967; B-C, Kassina senegalensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841); D, Phrynomantis microps Peters, 1875; E, Phrynobatrachus francisci Boulenger, 1912; F, Phrynobatrachus latifrons Ahl, 1924. Photos: Halamoussa Joëlle Ayoro.