Hyperolius igbettensis SchiØtz, 1963

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 : 646

Hyperolius igbettensis SchiØtz, 1963

( Fig. 6D )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Togo • 10 ♂; Kpeisolongo (close to Fazao Malfakassa National Park); Coll. GHS-W 2052-2056 .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL. — Côte d’Ivoire • 4 ♂, 8 ♀; Lamto ; MNHN-RA-2000.4077-4079, MNHN-RA-2000.4096, MNHN-RA-2000.4099, MNHN-RA-1996.8881, MNHN-RA-2000.4074, MNHN-RA-2000.4075, MNHN-RA-2000.4092, MNHN-RA-2000.4093, MNHN-RA-2000.4095, MNHN-RA-2000.4097 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Tchan Tabou ; MNHN-RA-2000.5346, MNHN-RA-1997.9583 .

DESCRIPTION. — Small (SVL 16.2-21.7 mm ♂, 21.1-23.7 mm ♀) and slender frog, with pointed snout. Head small, slightly longer than wide (HW 24-33% SVL; HL 31-38% SVL).Tympanum barely distinct, covered by skin (TYD 7-11% SVL). Hind leg moderately long (TL 40-58% SVL). Webbing rather large, leaving up to two phalanges free; webbing formula: I 1 – 1 ¼ II ½ – 2 III 1 – 2 IV 1 ½ – ½ V. Fingers and toes with terminal discs. Skin uniformly smooth on the back and flanks, slightly granular on the belly.

COLOURATION. — The dorsal colouration is green with white dorsolateral bands from tip of snout to groin. The canthus rostralis and upper eyelid are brown. The ventral body is white.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. — Males have a yellow gland on the subgular vocal sac. Nuptial spines are not distinct, prepollex not distinctly thickened.

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — The species is widely distributed in the Guinean savannah areas of West Africa. Rödel & Agyei (2003) and Leaché et al. (2006) reported its presence in the forest area between Togo and Ghana. Specimens have been studied by Bourgat (1979) in his work on the trematodes of Togo. During our survey, this species was collected in Kpei Solongo (Fazao Malfakassa National Park). Populations of this species have been observed along Mono River in ecological zone III.

TAXONOMY NOTE. — Older publications ( Channing et al. 2002; Amiet 2005) discussed the taxonomy of these frogs, and regarded them as part of Hyperolius nasutus Günther, 1865 , with a wide range in western, central and southern Africa. Channing et al. (2013) revised the group and validated the name originally proposed by SchiØtz (1963) and limited the distribution of this species to West Africa.

Figures

FIG. 6. — Representatives of anuran species from Togo in life: A, B, Hyperolius concolor (Hallowell, 1844) males (Kalaré); C, Hyperolius fusciventris burtoni (Boulenger, 1883) female (Togblekope); D, Hyperolius igbettensis Schiøtz, 1963 (Kpeisolongo).