Werneria bambutensis ( Amiet, 1972 )

Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Schmitz, Andreas, Pauwels, Olivier S. G. & Böhme, Wolfgang, 2004, Revision of the genus Werneria Poche, 1903, including the descriptions of two new species from Cameroon and Gabon (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae), Zootaxa 720, pp. 1-28 : 5-9

Werneria bambutensis ( Amiet, 1972)

Figs. 1 b, 2b, 3b, 4b

Holotype.— MHNG 1253.92 (formerly JLA 71.026), female, Mts. Bamboutos, app. 2,600 m, Cameroon, 21.II.1971, J.­L. Amiet.

Additional material examined.— MHNG 1453.17–19, two males, one female, Mts. Bamboutos, top of mountain, Cameroon, 24.III.1973, J.­L. Perret.

Diagnosis.— Smallest Werneria species; compact body; rounded snout; skin with micro­reticulation; neither sex with distinct, clear dorsolateral lines; belly without white spots; hind legs short and thick, without black bars, toes completely webbed; enlarged terminal phalange; head of males beset with minute spines; first finger of reproductive males with smooth, subdigital excrescence.

Description.— Males reach 28.4–32.5 mm SVL, females 30.4–38.0 mm; compact body shape; snout short and broad but rounded, not truncate; skin dull with micro­reticulation ( Fig. 1 b); dorsum in life dark greenish olive, in alcohol uniform brown to black, sometimes clear bronze with a gold shimmer or with blackish speckles; no obvious division between back and flank colour, however flank slightly darker in colour; no clear dorsolateral lines, only rarely traces of these lines on sides of head; no black bars on hind legs; ventral surface varies from uniform grey, to a dirty white, or whitish venter with greyish spots ( Fig. 2 b); hind legs comparatively short and thick; toes fully webbed ( Fig. 3 b); webbing more extensive during the reproductive season and more pronounced in males than in females; sides of head and lower jaw in males densely beset with minute spines ( Fig. 4 b); first finger of reproductive males with smooth, subdigital excrescence; finger and especially toes of both sexes swollen during reproductive season.

Natural history.— W. bambutensis is a montane species of the Cameroon highlands, rarely occurring below 2,100–2,200 m a.s.l. It inhabits grassland as well as forest strips along fast­flowing streams. In the dry season it was found below stones in torrent water ( Amiet 1972, 1975, 1976b; Gartshore 1984). The extensive webbing suggests a more aquatic life than that of other species of the genus. Adults and gravid females have been seen by J.­L. Amiet on Mt. Manengouba in February. Two dissected females contained 380 and 483 unpigmented eggs (2 mm dia., Amiet 1976b). On Mt. Manengouba tadpoles were abundant in fast flowing streams ( Amiet 1976b). These tadpoles are similar to those of W. preussi but have a more robust body that is dark brown. The tail is speckled with golden chromatophores ( Amiet 1972). In the rainy season after reproduction is completed, adults appear to disperse into open bamboo glades and relict forests ( Amiet 1975, 1976b). W. bambutensis tolerates dry seasons longer than two months, and lower temperatures at greater temperature ranges and higher altitudes than any other species of the genus ( Amiet 1972). The other two Werneria species occurring on Mt. Manengouba ( W. tandyi and W. mertensiana ) are separated from W. bambutensis along an altitudinal gradient ( Amiet 1975, 1976b). According to Amiet (1976a, 1989), W. bambutensis is mute.

Distribution.— W. bambutensis was described from Mts. Bamboutos, Cameroon, at 2,600 m a.s.l. ( Amiet 1972). It is known to occur at high altitudes between the Mts.

Manengouba and Okou in Cameroon ( Fig. 5 ; Amiet 1972, 1975, 1976b). One male was caught at 1,750 m in the valley of Jungwé River, near Mouandong, southwest flank of Mt. Manengouba. Gartshore (1984) speculated that it might occur at Santa. This was confirmed by J.­L. Amiet (pers. comm.) who collected an adult female (JLA 75.331) on Mt. Neshele at about 2,200 m a.s.l.

Figures

FIGURE 1: Dorsal view of Werneria species; a: W. iboundji nov. sp. female, holotype, IRSNB 1929; b: W. bambutensis male, MHNG 1453.17; c: W. tandyi male, MHNG 1453.21; d: W. submontana nov. sp. male, holotype, ZFMK 69699; e: W. mertensiana male, ZFMK 69137; f: W. preussi male, SMF 24180.

FIGURE 2: Ventral view of Werneria species; a: W. iboundji nov. sp. female, holotype, IRSNB 1929; b: W. bambutensis male, MHNG 1453.17; c: W. tandyi male, MHNG 1453.21; d: W. submontana nov. sp. male, holotype, ZFMK 69699; e: W. mertensiana male, ZFMK 69137; f: W. preussi male, SMF 24180.

FIGURE 3: Left hind feet of Werneria species, webs are stippled; a: W. iboundji nov. sp. female, holotype, IRSNB 1929; b: W. bambutensis male, MHNG 1453.17; c: W. tandyi male, MHNG 1453.21; d: W. submontana nov. sp. male, holotype, ZFMK 69699; e: W. mertensiana male, ZFMK 69137; f: W. preussi male, SMF 24180.

FIGURE 4: Heads of Werneria species, illustrating shape of snout, dorsolateral lines (stippled), warts and spines; a: W. iboundji nov. sp. female, holotype, IRSNB 1929; b: W. bambutensis male, MHNG 1453.17; c: W. tandyi male, MHNG 1453.21; d: W. submontana nov. sp. male, holotype, ZFMK 69699; e: W. mertensiana male, ZFMK 69137; f: W. preussi female SMF 24159; g: W. preussi male, SMF 24180.

FIGURE 5: Distribution of known Werneria species; compare with text.