Arthroleptis sp.

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 : 202

Arthroleptis sp.

Squeaker

Material. MOUNT LICO (top): BMNH 2018.2467– 68. Identification. This is a small Arthroleptis with a slender body ( Fig. 3B ) and, although not very distinct, it has the typical three-lobed pattern on the back (generic distinction). It is found in sympatry with A. stenodactylus and A. xenodactyloides but can be distinguished based on the following combination of characters: inner metatarsal tubercle very reduced (large in A. stenodactylus and inconspicuous in A. xenodactyloides ), and tips of toes slightly swollen (but finger tips not swollen as in A. xenodactyloides ). Overall, this form morphologically resembles A. troglodytes Poynton, 1963 , a rather small saxicolous species only known from the Chimanimani mountain range, on the border between Mozambique and Zimbabwe ( Becker and Hopkins 2017). The BLAST search shows 93% sequence similarity with A. francei from Malawi ( FJ 151100), but there are no sequences of A. troglodytes available for comparison. Comments. Based on morphological examination and preliminary analysis of molecular data (not shown here), this likely represents a new species, which is also found on Mount Chiperone (ca. 190 km southwest of Mount Lico).

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.