Phrynobatrachus latifrons ( Ahl, 1924 )

Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoudé, Ohler, Annemarie, Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Luiselli, Luca & Dubois, Alain, 2024, Amphibians of Togo: taxonomy, distribution and conservation status, Zoosystema 46 (25), pp. 631-670 : 652-654

Phrynobatrachus latifrons ( Ahl, 1924)

( Fig. 11B )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Togo • 1 ♂, 2 ♀; Agoté ; MNHN-RA-2008.0188, MNHN-RA-2008.0191, MNHN-RA-2008.0195 • 1 ♂; Kouma-Tokpli ; MNHN-RA-2008.0192 • 2 ♂, 4 ♀; Kovié ; MNHN-RA-1979.6864, MNHN-RA-1979.7267, MNHN-RA-1979.7313, MNHN-RA-1979.7347, MNHN-RA-1979.7288, MNHN-RA-1979.8286 • 1 ♂; Niamtougou ; MNHN-RA-1979.6877 • 5 ♂, 8 ♀; Oga ; MNHN-RA-2008.0180-0187, MNHN-RA-2008.0190, MNHN-RA-2008.0193, MNHN-RA-2008.0194, MNHN-RA-2008.0196 • 1 ♀; Alédjo ; MNHN-RA-2008.0179 • 1 ♀; Aou Losso ; MNHN-RA-2008.0199 • 2 ♀; Badou ; MNHN-RA-1979.7212, MNHN-RA-1979.7294 • 1 ♀; Gadjagan ; MNHN-RA-2008.0189 • 9 ♀; Kloto ; MNHN-RA-1979.6878, MNHN-RA-1979.6885, MNHN-RA-1979.6957, MNHN-RA-1979.6975, MNHN-RA-1979.7355, MNHN-RA-2000.3684-3687 .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL. — Côte d’Ivoire • 4 ♂, 1 ♀; Kotiessou ; MNHN-RA-1989.4886, MNHN-RA-1989.4887, MNHN-RA-1989.4889, MNHN-RA-1989.4892, MNHN-RA-1989.4895 • 4 ♂, 1 ♀; Lamto ; MNHN-RA-1989.4905, MNHN-RA-1989.4909, MNHN-RA-1989.4912-4914 • 1 ♀; Tommodé ; MNHN-RA-1993.4141, MNHN-RA-1993.4142 .

DESCRIPTION. — Slender small sized frog (SVL 15.3-20.0 mm ♂, 18.3-27.3 mm ♀). Snout pointed, slightly protruding beyond mouth slit. Head longer than broad (HW 26-35% SVL; HL 32-45% SVL). Tympanum distinct (TYD 4-9% SVL). Hind leg moderately long (TL 45-56% SVL). Webbing moderate with some phalanges free; webbing formula: I ½ – 1 II 0 – 1 III ½ – 2 IV 2 – ½ V. Tips of fingers and toes pointed. Skin smooth on snout, slightly shaggy or granular in orbital space of most specimens; back and flanks with glandular warts of varying size; distinct supratympanic fold; dorsal surfaces of forearm, tarsus, tibia and thigh smooth or with small, often rounded glandular warts; throat, chest and belly smooth or with transversal folds on the belly; ventral surface of thighs granular.

COLOURATION. — The dorsal colouration is variable: brown, dark brown or black-brown, beige or grayish uniform, or sometimes with green spots. Red, green or yellow vertebral bands and lines may be present. The dorsal face of forearm, thigh and tibia is crossed with light and dark brown transverse bands.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. — The adult males are smaller than the females. Males have a bright yellow subgular vocal sac with hardly distinct folds and prominent nuptial pads on first finger.

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This species occurs in all ecosystems and ecological zones throughout the country. It was described in Togo by Ahl (1924) as Phrynobatrachus latifrons togoensis . Bourgat (1979), Segniagbeto et al. (2007, 2022) and Hillers et al. (2009) have reported the presence of this species in Togo under the name Phrynobatrachus accraensis (Ahl, 1925) .

Figures

FIG. 11. — Representatives of anuran species from Togo in life: A, Phrynobatrachus calcaratus (Peters, 1863) (Kalaré); B, Phrynobatrachus francisci Boulenger, 1912 (Mango); C, Phrynobatrachus gutturosus (Chabanaud, 1921) (Assoukoko); D, Phrynobatrachus latifrons (Ahl, 1924) (Akloa); E, Phrynobatrachus natalensis (Smith, 1849) (Koui); F, Phrynobatrachus plicatus (Günther, 1859) (Assoukoko).