Phrynobatrachus plicatus (Günther, 1849)

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 : 654-655

Phrynobatrachus plicatus (Günther, 1849)

( Fig. 11f )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Togo • 2 ♂, 6 ♀; Tové ; MNHN-RA-1994.4449-4456 .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL. — Côte d’Ivoire • 14 ♂, 19 ♀; Lamto ; MNHN-RA-1979.6520, MNHN-RA-1979.6529, MNHN-RA-1979.6530, MNHN-RA-1979.6542, MNHN-RA-1979.6547, MNHN-RA-1979.6567, MNHN-RA-1979.6569-6577, MNHN-RA-1979.6591, MNHN-RA-1979.6593, MNHN-RA-1979.6602, MNHN-RA-1979.6605, MNHN-RA-1979.6634, MNHN-RA-1979.6635, MNHN-RA-1979.6640-6642, MNHN-RA-1979.6663, MNHN-RA-1979.6668, MNHN-RA-1979.6670, MNHN-RA-1979.6672-6676, MNHN-RA-1993.2686, MNHN-RA-1993.2689 .

Guinea • 4 ♂; MNHN-RA-1944.0078, MNHN-RA-1944.0079, MNHN-RA-1952.86, MNHN-RA-1952.147 .

Liberia • 1 ♂, 2 ♀; Nimba; MNHN-RA-1995.5778, MNHN-RA-1995.5796, MNHN-RA-1995.5797 .

DESCRIPTION. — Medium sized (SVL 22.5-35.0 mm ♂, 25.4- 40.7 mm ♀), slender-looking species. Snout obtuse, barely exceeding mouth slit. Head massive, longer than broad (HW 27-40% SVL; HL 33-46% SVL). Tympanum distinct (TYD 5-8% SVL). Shank long (TL 43-72% SVL). Webbing small with three phalanges free; webbing formula: I 1 – 2 II 1 – 2 ½ III 2 – 3 IV 3 – 2 V. Upper snout, loreal region, interorbital space, flanks and back slightly shagreen; back marked by two glandular folds from the eyelids, converging towards the scapular region, then moving externally before ending in the sacral region; some spinules on the flanks and posteriorly in the dorsal region; distinct supratympanic fold; dorsal sides of the forearm, tarsus, tibia and thigh finely granular; throat smooth in females and juveniles.

COLOURATION. — The general colouration of the back is brownish or brownish gray. The loreal and tympanic region are dark brown to black. The dorsal parts of forearm, tarsus, tibia and thigh have dark and light transverse bars. The dorsal side of the tarsus is usually black in colour. The back side of the thigh has dark and light longitudinal bands. The chest, belly and ventral side of the thigh are whitish. The throat and chest have small cloudy spots intensely coloured in brown.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. — The males are smaller than the females. They have a subgular vocal sac marked by longitudinal glandular gular folds, intensely pigmented, giving the appearance of a black colouration on the throat and chest. Nuptial pads are very prominent and occupy the dorsal and inner sides of the thumb and prepollex.

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — Phrynobatrachus plicatus is a West African forest species ( Rödel et al. 2009). Its distribution extends from Guinea to western Nigeria ( Channing & Rödel 2019). All specimens examined were collected in the forest zone of Togo (Tové, ecological zone IV). The collection areas of the species in Togo published by Lamotte & Xavier (1966b), Lamotte (1967a) and Rödel et al. (2005) agree with this habitat characterisation. This species has further been reported in Togo by Lamotte & Xavier (1966b), Bourgat (1979), Segniagbeto et al. (2007) and Hillers et al. (2009).

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).