Xenopus fischbergi Evans et al., 2015

COLLECTION MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 11 tadpoles; Banfora; 10.64800°N, – 4.77679°W; 280 m a.s.l.; XII.1959; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHN-RA-1993.4057, 1993.4058, 1993.4059, 1993.4060, 1993.4061, 1993.4062, 1993.4063, 1993.4064, 1993.4065, 1993.4066, 1993.4067 • 8♀ (SVL 39.5-45.3 mm); Boulgou province, Garango; 11.79982°N, – 0.55055°W; 280 m a.s.l.; 18. VI.1962; M. Lamontellerie leg.; MNHN-RA-1993.4376, 1993.4377, 1993.4378, 1993.4379, 1993.4380, 1993.4381, 1993.4382, 1993.4383 • 3 subadults (SVL 34-36.8 mm), 1 ♀ (SVL 45.1 mm); Bobo-Dioulasso, Pala; 11.14978°N, – 4.22275°W; 280 m a.s.l.; XII.1970; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHN-RA-1997.0886, 1997.0887, 1997.0888, 1997.0889 .

FIELD MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 3 ♀ (SVL 39.9-47.7 mm); Koti; 11.38788°N, – 3.06401°W; 310 m a.s.l.; 10.X.2017; H. J. Ayoro leg.; in a small water near a garbage dump; hand capture • 1 ♀ (SVL 40.7 mm); same locality; 27.IX.2018; same collector as for preceding; in a small pond in a bush; hand capture • 2 ♀ (SVL 45.1- 46.8 mm), 2 subadults (SVL 34.3-37.1 mm); Loumbila, downstream from the Loumbila dam; 12.491656°N, – 1.40244°W; 280 m a.s.l.; 14.VII.2017; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; in an irrigated well; hand capture • 4 ♀ (SVL 41.7-58.5 mm), 4 subadults (SVL 23.5-36.7 mm); Tuy province, Fafo; 11.33470°N, – 3.01947°W; 300 m a.s.l.; 5.XI.2018; H. J. Ayoro leg.; in the backwater of Fafo; hand capture • 2 individuals; Ouagadougou, University of Joseph Ki-Zerbo; 12.378350°N, – 1.50128°W; 295 m a.s.l.; 12.VIII.2018; same collector as for preceding; in the water of the channel near the university restaurant; visual observation .

LITERATURE REPORTS. — Burkina Faso • Banfora; 10.64800°N, – 4.77679°W; 280 m a.s.l.; Yako; 12.96744°N, – 2.26155°W; 330 m a.s.l. (Loumont 1984) • Fada N’gourma; 12.06051°N, 0.34913°E; 300 m a.s.l. (Mohneke 2011; Mohneke et al. 2011) • 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. — 39 specimens examined. Adult and subadult specimens of Xenopus fischbergi with flat head and smooth body. Presence of a long subocular tentacle and three black claws on toes. In alcohol, the back and limbs greyish to brown with few darker brown spots. The belly whitish, some darker spots occasionally on the throat and on the thighs; whitish zones usually yellow in life. Previous West African reports of this species under the name Xenopus muelleri .

HABITAT. — We collected X. fischbergi in the water of irrigation wells, in plantain fields in Loumbila and in a small water body in Koti. These habitats were surrounded by grasses and had aquatic plants. During the dry season, X. fischbergi was found at the banks of rivers in savannah habitats (SchiØtz 1967; Böhme et al. 1996). It is known from various other West African countries such as Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Togo (Rödel 2000; Nago et al. 2006; Segniagbeto et al. 2007; Onadeko 2016).