Phrynomantis microps Peters, 1875

(Fig. 5D)

COLLECTION MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 4 ♂ (SVL 38.2- 38.6 mm); Kourweogo province, Laye; 12.53081°N, – 1.77155°W; 290 m a.s.l.; VIII.1968; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHN-RA-2000.5667, 2000.5660, 2000.5657, 2000.5659 • 1 ♂ (SVL 41.1 mm); Sanemantenga province, Kossoghin; 13.29944°N, – 1.05088°W; 320 m a.s.l.; VIII.1966; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHN-RA-1995.7090 .

FIELD MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 1 ♂ (SVL 38.2 mm); Arly National Park, the floodplain; 11.57852°N, 1.46004°E; 255 m a.s.l.; 16. VI.2018; H. J. Ayoro leg.; near a small water body; hand capture • 1 ♀ (SVL 42.5 mm); Koti; 11.38788°N, – 3.06401°W; 310 m a.s.l.; 15.IX.2018; same collector as for preceding; in a peanut field; hand capture • 1 ♂ (SVL 42.3 mm), 1 ♀ (SVL 51.4 mm); Folonzo village swampy valley; 9.95777°N, – 4.67455°W; 240 m a.s.l.; 6.VIII.2018; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; anthill and scorpion’s holes; hand capture • 2 ♂; on the edge of Pabré dam; 12.51597°N, – 1.59923°W; 290 m a.s.l.; 11-12.VII.2017; same collectors as for preceding; under the trees near the dam; acoustic report • 1 ♂; near the “ Ancien barrage”; 12.22843°N, – 1.34766°W; 285 m a.s.l.; 16.VII.2017; same collectors as for preceding; acoustic report • 1 ♂; in the Koubri monaster reserve around the Monastery Hostel; 12.21687°N, – 1.35048°W; 280 m a.s.l.; 17.VII.2017; same collectors as for preceding; acoustic report • 1♂; W National Park, near PK-27 bouli; 11.88744°N, 2.11913°W; 265 m a.s.l.; 20. VI.2018; H. J. Ayoro leg.; acoustic report • 1 ♂; the Kabougou village swampy valley; 11.96075°N, 1.99744°E; 280 m a.s.l.; 22. VI.2018; same collector as for preceding; near paddy field; acoustic report • 3 ♂; Kou Forest; 11.18888°N, – 4.43944°W; 260 m a.s.l.; 7-9.VIII.2018; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; in the savannah part and at the edge of this forest; acoustic report • Ioba province, Djikologo (close to Bontioli reserve); 10.94253°N, – 3.15788°W; 260 m a.s.l.; J. Penner leg. • Dano, Gbagba; 11.18133°N, – 3.05159°W; 300 m a.s.l.; 2011; J. Penner leg.; field direct observation .

LITERATURE REPORTS. — Burkina Faso • Yako; 12.96744°N, – 2.26155°W; 330 m a.s.l.; 18.VIII.1961 (SchiØtz 1967) • Gourma province, Fada N’gourma; 12.06051°N, 0.34913°E; 300 m a.s.l.; 1983, I-III.2008 (Böhme et al. 1996; Mohneke et al. 2011) • Ganzourgou province, Mogtedo; 12.31844°N, – 0.83601°W; 280 m a.s.l. (Mohneke 2011; Mohneke et al. 2011) • Zorgho; 12.2483°N, – 0.6278°W; 300 m a.s.l.; I-III.2008 (Mohneke 2011; Mohneke et al. 2011) .

DESCRIPTION. — 9 specimens examined. Size within the range given by Rödel (2000). Characterized by a unique body shape and a red back (Fig. 5D). Presence of a fine dark brown vertebral line on the back. In alcohol, the red colouration getting a greyish.

HABITAT. — The species calls often below shrubs and from holes. In Comoé-Léraba Forest, males were collected in shrubs on the edge of a large dark scorpion hole where they were calling. It was also found on the edge of water under a tree. A female was found on an anthill ready to withdraw into a hole. The species has been reported to often occur within ant nests and scorpion burrows (Rödel & Braun 1999; Rödel et al. 2013).

It is known that P. microps colonizes various savannah habitats including dense tree savannah where it is found in flooded meadows, in ponds and swamps (SchiØtz 1967; Rödel 2000; Hirschfeld & Rödel 2011). Barej et al. (2017) reported its occurence in West and Central Africa.