Phrynobatrachus cf. mababiensis FitzSimons, 1932

Santos, Bruna S., Marques, Mariana P., Bauer, Aaron M. & Ceríaco, Luis M. P., 2021, Herpetological results of Francisco Newton’s Zoological Expedition to Angola (1903 – 1906): a taxonomic revision and new records of a forgotten collection, Zootaxa 5028 (1), pp. 1-80 : 16-17

Phrynobatrachus cf. mababiensis FitzSimons, 1932

Material (eighteen specimens): Eighteen juvenile specimens (MHNCUP/ ANF 116–133 , formerly UP-MHNFCP- 094971; Fig. S23 ), collected from Unguay [=Nonguai] [-15.76667º, 12.01667º, 45 m a.s.l.] Namibe province, in June 1904 .

Comments: Phrynobatrachus mababiensis is known from savannas in central and southern Africa and has been reported from southern Angola ( Marques et al. 2018). According to Frost (2020), the species occurs in East African savannas from Tanzania to the Eastern Cape Province ( Republic of South Africa), west to northern Namibia, in Botswana, and presumably in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo and southern Kenya as well. Marques et al. (2018) refers this species to the taxonomically problematic Phrynobatrachus cryptotis group. A molecular analysis study by Zimkus et al. (2010) reveled that, specimens recognized today as P. cf. mababiensis , are in fact three different species. Specimens MHNCUP/ANF 116–133 were not cited by Ferreira (1904, 1906). Recently, Ernst et al. (2020) reported P. cf. mababiensis from Serra do Pingano, Uíge Province. Luis M. P. Ceríaco also recently collected material from Maungo ( Fig. 5 ).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Life photo of Phrynobatrachus cf. mababiensis, from Maungo. Photo by Luis Ceríaco.

FIGURE S23. Specimen of Phrynobatrachus cf. mababiensis (MHNCUP/ANF 126), from Nonguai. Photo by Bruna Santos.