Sclerophrys gutturalis (Power, 1927)

Bittencourt-Silva, Gabriela B., Bayliss, Julian & Conradie, Werner, 2020, First herpetological surveys of Mount Lico and Mount Socone, Mozambique, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 247) 14 (2), pp. 198-217 : 205

Sclerophrys gutturalis (Power, 1927)

Guttural Toad

Material. MOUNT LICO (base): BMNH 2018.2503, BMNH 2018.2538, PEM A13665, PEM A13704–05, MHNM.Amp.2018.0028; MOUNT LICO (top): BMNH 2018.2541. Identification. This species is very similar to S. pusilla (see below) but can be distinguished by the elevated parotid glands and red markings behind the thighs, although these characters can be variable and/ or difficult to distinguish in juveniles. The BLAST search shows> 99% sequence similarity with a large number of sequences of S. gutturalis . Comments. Abundantly found around the campsite where some individuals were found hiding under tents or near the stream at night ( Fig. 3J ). Whether this species is breeding on top of Mount Lico is unclear given that only two individuals were found there (only one was collected) and that the only water body found there is a small spring that runs for less than 200 m before dropping down the mountain. Sclerophrys pusilla usually breeds in lentic water bodies. Additionally, the DNA samples of S. gutturalis obtained here, two from the base and one from the top of Mount Lico, show 100% sequence similarity.

Figures

Fig. 3. Amphibians from Mount Lico and Mount Socone, northern Mozambique. (A) Arthroleptis aff. francei; (B) Arthroleptis sp.; (C) A. stenodactylus (mountain form); (D) A. stenodactylus (lowland form); (E) A. xenodactyloides; (F) Leptopelis broadleyi; (G) L. flavomaculatus; (H) Breviceps sp.; (I) Mertensophryne cf. loveridgei; (J) Sclerophrys gutturalis; (K) Hemisus marmoratus; (L) Hyperolius marmoratus albofasciatus; (M–O) H. substriatus; (P) H. tuberilinguis; (Q) Nothophryne sp.; (R) Scolecomorphus kirkii.