Hyperolius noblei Ahl, 1931

Channing, Alan, 2022, Colour patterns to sequences: a perspective on the systematics of the Hyperolius viridiflavus group (Anura: Hyperoliidae) using mitochondrial DNA, Zootaxa 5134 (3), pp. 301-354 : 340

Hyperolius noblei Ahl, 1931

Hyperolius noblei Ahl, 1931 . ZMB 85765, “Kilwa, Deutsch-Ostafrika ” Tanzania ( Table 3 ). Colour in alcohol: Uniform yellow-brown. A silver-white stripe runs from the side of the snout, over the upper eyelid to form a larger mark behind the eye.

Sequences were available from Nhica and Palma, Mozambique (as Hyperolius cf. marmoratus ), and Nhica do Rovuma (as Hyperolius marmoratus taeniatus ), Mozambique. The two sequences from Nhica ( MG829620 and MK509512 ) were derived from the same specimen (MNHNP 2010.185). The minimum uncorrected p- distances from other clades were 4.2–6.9% ( Table 2 ). Presently this species is only known from southern coastal Tanzania and northern coastal Mozambique ( Fig. 10A ).

The nearest described taxon to this clade is Hyperolius noblei Ahl, 1931 . The description matches the specimens collected and sequenced from northern Mozambique ( Table 1 ). The pattern elements in the description of the type of H. noblei are a uniform back, with a transverse silver stripe forming a large mark behind the eye.

The advertisement call (no voucher) was recorded on the Afungi Peninsula at Palma, Mozambique (10.8456°S, 40.4732°E). The call is a long (0.08 s) whistle, frequency modulated, with the emphasised frequency at 3500 Hz. A typical call starts at 3000 Hz, and rises steeply in pitch to 3595 Hz in 0.03 s, then maintains that pitch for 0.05 s. The emphasised frequency varies in the population from 3500 Hz to 4565 Hz.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Localities of sequences (black circles), type localities (stars) and location of junior synonyms of Hyperolius noblei (A), H. goetzei (B), H. spatzi (C) and H. dintelmanni (D). Locality codes are explained in Table 3.