Paracassina obscura Boulenger, 1895

Mulatu, Tilahun & Getahun, Abebe, 2018, Diversity of anurans in forest fragments of southwestern Ethiopia: The case of the Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve (YCFBR), Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 158) 12 (2), pp. 30-40 : 34-35

Paracassina obscura Boulenger, 1895

Paracassina obscura ( Fig. 5B ) is one of the least studied species of anura despite being endemic to Ethiopian highlands. Largen (2001) indicated that the species exists to the west of rift valley, unlike its relative P. kounhiensis (distributed to eastern rift valley), in the elevational range between 820–3,000 m. During the current survey, the species was observed in the elevational range between 1,400 –1,900 m. The species was observed in home gardens and farm lands. Individuals were heard calling from these habitats during both the day and night time. A bright-yellow patch at the groin which is clearly surrounded by a dark pigment was observed on captured individuals. This character differentiates P. obscura from its relative P. kounhiensis . During the dry season, no single individual for the species was observed from all sites. During the wet season, the species were abundantly observed in home gardens, forest clearings, swampy areas and abandoned farmlands. It has a species-specific call which is weak and stays for a second. This call is like a sound that comes out from water droppings as Largen (2001) explained.

Figures

Fig. 5. Selected species encountered in YCFBR. (A) Leptopelis ragazzii, (B) Paracassina obscura, (C) Hyperolius nasutus, (D) Xenopus clivii, (E) Ptychadena anchiatae, (F) Conraua beccarii.