Sclerophrys xeros (Tandy, Tandy, Keith & Duff-MacKay, 1976)

COLLECTION MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 2♀ (SVL 63.8-65.8 mm), 2 ♂ (SVL 59.3-66.9 mm); Passoré province, Samba; 12.70141°N, – 2.40390°W; 300 m a.s.l.; 10.VII.1961; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHNRA-1979.643, 1979.645, 1979.644, 1979.646 • 2 ♀ (SVL 64.7- 79.6 mm), 3 ♂ (SVL 60.5-68.9 mm); Ouagadougou; 12.38011°N, – 1.51100°W; 300 m a.s.l.; V.1975; M. Lamotte leg.; MHNG 1537.1 - 5 • 3 ♂ (SVL 69.9-73.7 mm), 4 ♀ (SVL 78.1-81.1 mm), 1 subadult (SVL 38.5 mm); Bougouriba province, Diébougou; 10.98411°N, – 3.25603°W; 300 m a.s.l.; V.1976; NA leg.; MHNG 1536.89 - 96 .

FIELD MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 3 ♀ (SVL 66.0- 74.1 mm); Deux Balés National Park, Tiona pond; 11.63245°N, – 2.85431°W; 270 m a.s.l.; 9.XI.2017; H. J. Ayoro leg.; edge of the pond; hand capture • 1 ♂ (SVL 77.4 mm); Saaba; 12.37210°N, – 1.40372°W; 300 m a.s.l.; 4.IX.2017; same collector as for preceding; in a small water body near a rubbish dump • 5 ♀ (SVL 58.1-68.3 mm); Djibasso; 13.12511°N, – 4.16030°W; 340 m a.s.l.; 30.IX.2017; same collector as for preceding; under a light hunting insects; hand capture • 2 ♀ (SVL 60.1-65.1 mm); same locality; 5.X.2017; same collector as for preceding; under a cattle hay; hand capture • 7 ♂ (SVL 71.8-85.3 mm), 1 ♀ (SVL 78.1 mm); W National Park, Kabougou village swampy valley (3 km north-west of the Kabougou forest post office); 11.96073°N, 1.99745°E; 280 m a.s.l.; 22. VI.2018; same collector as for preceding; in a millet field; hand capture • 10 ♀ (SVL 51.5-84.5 mm); N’Djomga village pond (on the way from Dori to Gorom-Gorom); 14.07222°N, – 0.04865°W; 270 m a.s.l.; 25.VIII.2018; same collector as for preceding; close to a millet field; hand capture • 2 ♀ (SVL 64.7-68.7 mm); Yakouta, downstream from the Yakouta dam; 14.07450°N, – 0.14291°W; 280 m a.s.l.; 26.VIII.2018; same collector as for preceding; under shrubs; hand capture • 1 ♂ (SVL 78.8 mm); Sebba; 13.43904°N, 0.52340°E; 250 m a.s.l.; 22.IX.2018; A. Antarou leg.; hand capture • 2 ♂; Dédougou, SONATUR city; 12.48972°N, 3.43611°W; 300 m a.s.l.; 23.VIII.2017; H. J. Ayoro leg.; in a drain; visual and acoustic report • 1 ♂; Arly National Park, Bongola swampy valley; 11.53252°N, 1.48245°E; 170 m a.s.l.; 13. VI.2018; same collector as for preceding; acoustic report • 1 ♂; Arly National Park, near Bouliabou pond; 11.57888°N, 1.46390°E; 170 m a.s.l.; 16. VI.2018; same collector as for preceding; acoustic report • 2 ♂; Folonzo village swampy valley; 9.95768°N, – 4.67454°W; 240 m a.s.l.; 6.VIII.2018; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; acoustic report • 1 ♂; Kou River savannah; 11.18814°N, – 4.44397°W; 375 m a.s.l.; 9.VIII.2018; same collectors as for preceding; acoustic report .

LITERATURE REPORTS. — Burkina Faso • Gourma province, Fada N’Gourma; 12.06051°N, 0.34913°E; 300 m a.s.l.; IX.-XII.2004 (Brito et al. 2008) • Fada N’gourma; 12.06051°N, 0.34913°E; 300 m a.s.l. (Mohneke 2011; Mohneke et al. 2011) • Ganzourgou province, Zorgho; 12.2483°N, – 0.6278°W; 300 m a.s.l.; I-III.2008 (Mohneke 2011; Mohneke et al. 2011) .

DESCRIPTION. — 49 specimens examined. Toad, similar to S. maculata and S. regularis, but skin with very prominent warts bearing spinules, more pointed than those of the two other species. Red pattern on the rear parts of thighs (absent in three other Sclerophrys species) and smooth, kidney shaped parotid glands allowing easy identification in the field. For more information on S. xeros, see Tandy et al. (1976), Lamotte & Xavier (1981), Salvador (1996) and Rödel (2000).

HABITAT. — This species was generally recorded from disturbed areas, around water bodies and open wetter habitats. It was sometimes seen inside protected areas. The recent samples were generally from paddy fields and around village ponds. Lanza (1981) and Salvador (1996) reported S. xeros from dry savannahs and very arid zones, at the vicinity of dry rivers, oasis and cattle troughs.