Tomopterna elegans

Zimkus, Breda M. & Larson, Joanna G., 2011, Examination of the molecular relationships of sand frogs (Anura: Pyxicephalidae: Tomopterna) and resurrection of two species from the Horn of Africa, Zootaxa 2933 (1), pp. 27-45 : 38

Diagnosis of Tomopterna elegans

Body shape compact and toad-like; habit stout; snout-vent length: males 38.3–40.5 mm (mean 39.4 mm, n=5), females 39.9–44.4 mm (mean 42.2 mm, n=2); vomerine teeth in two oblique groups between the moderately large choanae; tongue notched with two uneven sides; head short, broader than long; snout rounded; nostrils closer to the snout tip than the anterior margin of the eye; tympanum indistinct or distinct, measuring 1/3 to 2/3 as large as the eye diameter; interorbital distance less than the width of the upper eyelid; subarticular tubercles single and distinct; toes with one-third webbing, approximately two to three phalanges free of webbing on the fourth toe; inner metatarsal tubercle prominent and shovel-shaped, longer than the first toe; small, round outer metatarsal tubercle present; tarsal tubercle absent; skin smooth with some small, isolated warts; glandular ridge below the tympanum trailing from the back edge of mouth may be absent or present, when present, either discontinuous or continuous; males with nuptial pad on manual digit I and sometimes II; males with thickened U-shaped gular flap; in alcohol, color may be light grey, light brown or orange-brown wither darker markings; a light vertebral line is variably present; an interorbital bar may be present; limbs are barred; males with dark throat, females may have throat the same as ventrum or slightly mottled. See Table 4 for morphometric results.