Hyperolius goetzei 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 : 340-341

Hyperolius goetzei Ahl, 1931

Hyperolius goetzei Ahl, 1931 . ZMB 53181, “ Uhehe, Massai-Steppe” (= Iringa), Tanzania. Colour in alcohol: Above bright grey-red, with large dark brown marbling on the side of the head and body which has darker margins.

Hyperolius viridiflavus reesi Schiøtz, 1982 . ZMUC R77205, Magombero Forest, Tanzania. The type was collected close to the localities of the sequenced material, and this form is known to be widely distributed on the central Tanzania highlands ( Schiøtz, 1999). Phase J colour in life: back silvery-brown with a darker pattern of spots and an irregular hourglass pattern. Sides of head and body dark, without a subdermal dark lateral streak. Phase F: Back yellow to light green, flanks with a conspicuous subdermal lateral streak, overlain by 2–3 yellow vertical stripes.

Sequences were available from Kibasira Swamp and Mang’ula, (close to Magombero Forest) Tanzania ( Fig. 10B ). The minimum uncorrected p- distances from other clades were 4.0–7.0% ( Table 2 ).

Poynton (1977) recognised Hyperolius sp. from central Tanzania with lateral black markings that show through the skin, which Schiøtz (1982) described as H. v. reesi . Poynton later (1991) recognised Hyperolius reesi as a good species. The dark lateral band is common in other species, as are yellow transverse stripes in some animals. However, Ahl (1931) described Hyperolius goetzei from Iringa in central Tanzania, which Schiøtz (1999) illustrated in colour from Dabaga near Iringa. The back is uniform with mottled sides. This species is known from central Tanzania ( Schiøtz 1999). The localities of the type and taxon regarded as a junior synonym are listed in Table 3 .

The most common pattern elements in the descriptions of the types included in H. goetzei are dorsal marbling (67%), followed by lateral marbling (33%), small dark spots (33%), or a dark lateral band (33%). The percentages are not additive, as the pattern elements may be shared.

The advertisement call (no voucher) is a series of frequency modulated whistles or clicks with a mean length of 0.04 s and an emphasised frequency of 2239 Hz (Iringa, Tanzania).

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.