Arthroleptis poecilonotus

Last updated

Arthroleptis poecilonotus
Arthroleptis poecilonotus.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Arthroleptidae
Genus: Arthroleptis
Species:
A. poecilonotus
Binomial name
Arthroleptis poecilonotus
Peters, 1863
Synonyms

Arthroleptis macrodactylusBoulenger, 1882
Arthroleptis inguinalis
Boulenger, 1900

Contents

Arthroleptis poecilonotus (common names: West African screeching frog, mottled squeaker) is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. [2] This adaptable species has a wide range within the Sub-Saharan Africa and is not considered threatened.

Distribution and taxonomy

Arthroleptis poecilonotus is widely distributed in the West African forest belt from Guinea-Bissau to Gabon, north-central Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, northern Democratic Republic of the Congo and extreme western Uganda, possibly as far as South Sudan. It is also present on Bioko. [2] The IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group [1] lists the following countries: Benin, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Uganda, South Sudan, and Togo. There are no records from Sierra Leone, although the species is likely to be present there. [1] The taxonomic status of the nominal species is problematic, with one species (or more) representing western parts of its range, and another one in the eastern parts. [1] Arthroleptis bivittatus and Arthroleptis zimmeri are possibly junior synonyms of this species. [1] [2]

Description

Males measure 20–26 mm (0.8–1.0 in) and females 21–29 mm (0.8–1.1 in) in snout–vent length. [3]

Habitat

Arthroleptis poecilonotus inhabits secondary herbaceous growth in the forest zone. It also occurs in clearings and along forest tracks, and in towns and villages. [1]

Ecology

Arthroleptis poecilonotus breeds away from water-bodies, laying its eggs on the ground where the developing larvae undergo direct development into juvenile frogs. [1]

Status

Arthroleptis poecilonotus is a common species facing no particular threats. It has a wide distribution and is presumed to have a large total population. It is present in some protected areas, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as "least concern". [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Arthroleptis adelphus</i> Species of frog

Arthroleptis adelphus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae found in the western equatorial region of Africa in southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon, and possibly in southwestern Central African Republic and northwestern Republic of the Congo.

Arthroleptis adolfifriederici is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. Several common names have been coined for it, including Rugege Forest squeaker, Rugegewald squeaker, Adolf Friedrich's squeaker frog, and Adolf's squeaker.

Arthroleptis bivittatus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Guinea and only known from the holotype collected from the Tombo Island. It is uncertain whether this species is distinct from the common Arthroleptis poecilonotus. Common name Tumbo-Insel screeching frog has been coined for this species.

Arthroleptis carquejai is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is known with certainty only from northwestern Angola, but there is also a recent record from Gabon. If this is correct, its distribution might also include intervening areas in the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The specific name carquejai honours Bento Carqueja, Portuguese professor, journalist, and philanthropist. Common names Cambondo screeching frog and Carqueja's squeaker have been proposed for it.

Arthroleptis loveridgei is a species of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo and only known from its type locality, "Arebi (Uelé)", Ituri Province, in the northeastern part of the country. The specific name loveridgei honours Arthur Loveridge, an American herpetologist. Common names Loveridge's screeching frog and Loveridge's squeaking frog have been coined for it.

Arthroleptis schubotzi, also known as the Burundi screeching frog, Schubotz's squeaker, and Kivu dwarf litter frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the African Rift Valley in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kivu), southwestern Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and western Uganda. There are taxonomic problems in delimiting this species.

Arthroleptis stenodactylus, the common squeaker, dune squeaker, narrow-footed humus frog, savanna squeaking frog, or shovel-footed squeaker, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It occurs widely in the Sub-Saharan Africa and is known from coastal Kenya and eastern and southern Tanzania, south to Malawi and Mozambique and southwest to Zambia and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo to western Angola, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern South Africa. An isolated population in Uganda likely represent another species, and it is possible that the current species circumscription includes further cryptic species.

Arthroleptis sylvaticus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon, and possibly Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Arthroleptis taeniatus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southern Cameroon, southwestern Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, western Democratic Republic of the Congo, and probably Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are shallow marshes in forest. It can be locally threatened by habitat loss. It is common in parts of its range.

Arthroleptis tuberosus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, possibly Central African Republic. Its natural habitats are montane and (presumably) lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss for agriculture and logging but is protected by the Virunga National Park and possibly other protected areas.

<i>Arthroleptis variabilis</i> Species of amphibian

Arthroleptis variabilis is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the lowlands of eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Earlier records west from Nigeria refer to other species, including Arthroleptis krokosua described in 2008. Common names Buea screeching frog and variable squeaker frog have been coined for it.

<i>Arthroleptis xenochirus</i> Species of frog

The plain squeaker or Marimba screeching frog is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zambia, and possibly in the adjacent Tanzania. Its natural habitats are open grassland near streams, and forest patches. It can also occur on the edge of plantations and in rural gardens. It is very common frog in suitable habitats, and there are no significant threats to this adaptable species.

<i>Leptopelis aubryi</i> Species of amphibian

Leptopelis aubryi, also known as the Aubry's tree frog and Gaboon forest treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, western and northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola.

Leptopelis boulengeri is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southeastern Nigeria, southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, and western Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is expected to be found in the Central African Republic and the Cabinda Enclave of Angola. Common name Victoria forest treefrog has been coined for it, apparently in reference to its type locality, "Victoria, Kamerun", now known as Limbe.

Cameroon forest tree frog Species of amphibian

The Cameroon forest tree frog, Leptopelis brevirostris, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southern Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. It is expected to occur in southwestern Central African Republic and in the Republic of the Congo, but no records have been confirmed from those countries.

<i>Leptopelis calcaratus</i> Species of amphibian

Leptopelis calcaratus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, the southwestern Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Common name Efulen forest treefrog has been coined for it.

The common forest tree frog, Leptopelis notatus, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae found in Angola, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, and possibly the Central African Republic. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, rivers, intermittent freshwater marshes, and heavily degraded former forests.

The ocellated forest tree frog, Leptopelis ocellatus, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae found in Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon, and possibly Angola and the Central African Republic. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, swamps, and heavily degraded former forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The Kala forest tree frog, Leptopelis omissus, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae found in Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria, and possibly Angola, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, and heavily degraded former forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Crowned bullfrog Species of frog

The crowned bullfrog is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in the Sub-Saharan Africa . Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, freshwater springs, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, and ponds.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Arthroleptis poecilonotus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T54380A18363764. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T54380A18363764.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Arthroleptis poecilonotus Peters, 1863". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  3. Blackburn, David C. (2010). "A new squeaker frog (Arthroleptidae: Arthroleptis) from Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea". Herpetologica. 66 (3): 320–334. doi:10.1655/09-039.1. JSTOR   40931038. S2CID   86261240.