Phrynobatrachus natalensis (Smith, 1849)

Natal Puddle Frog

Material: Two males, NGK-Nimba 0032 (Fig. 12D), NGK-Nimba 0033, and two females, NGK-Nimba 0035, NGK-Nimba 0036 (Fig. 12E).

Comments: Phrynobatrachus natalensis as currently defined (Channing and Rödel 2019) comprise several cryptic species widespread throughout the savannah areas of sub-Saharan Africa (Zimkus et al. 2010). We encountered the species in the Yéalé village, near road puddles in dense vegetation (07°31.928’N, 008°25.401’W; 425 m asl). Other active males were found at night between tufts of ornamental plants around houses after heavy rainfalls. Adult males were uniform brown (26.0– 28.1 mm; N = 6) and had black throats with folds, while adult females (27.8–33.5 mm; N = 8) had white, mottled brown or greyish-black throats. One female exhibited an exceptionally conspicuous greyish-brown back with green spots and a green interorbital line; other females being uniform brown. Some frogs reproduced in a large pond within dense vegetation. Four clutches comprising, 938, 1021, 1265, and 1501 small reddish-brown eggs, were floating on the water surface. Mean egg diameter was 0.9 mm (± 0.1 mm; N = 20). Clutch sizes therefore seem to be larger in West African, compared to southern African, populations (compare values in Rödel 2000).