Hyperolius sylvaticus

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Hyperolius sylvaticus
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Hyperolius
Species:
H. sylvaticus
Binomial name
Hyperolius sylvaticus
Schiøtz  [ fr ], 1967

Hyperolius sylvaticus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southern Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and western Cameroon, [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] with a (perhaps apparent) gap in Benin. It is also likely to occur in Liberia. [1] Common name Bobiri reed frog has been coined for this species [2] [3] (this name could also refer to Hyperolius bobirensis [6] ).

Contents

Taxonomy

Hyperolius sylvaticus was described by Danish herpetologist Arne Schiøtz  [ fr ] in 1967, using material from the Bobiri Forest Reserve (Ghana) as the types. He also described two subspecies, Hyperolius sylvaticus ivorensis from Ivory Coast and Hyperolius sylvaticus nigeriensis from Nigeria and Cameroon, in addition to the nominotypical subspecies. [2] [3] [4]

Description

Hyperolius sylvaticus is a small-sized member of its genus, with males measuring 20–29 mm (0.79–1.14 in) and females 26–31 mm (1.0–1.2 in) in snout–vent length. Males have a tiny, round gular flap. The pupil is horizontal. There are two colour phases. All juveniles and many mature males display phase "J", which is typically brownish to green and has a dorsal hourglass pattern. All females, and some males, develop into phase "F" prior to the first breeding season. This phase is often colorful and variable. [3] [4]

Body size and dorsal patterning differs between the subspecies. The nominotypical subspecies has coherent dorsal hourglass pattern (phase J) and undelimited, light dorsolateral stripe (phase F). In Hyperolius s. ivorensis and Hyperolius s. nigeriensis the hourglass pattern is broken mid-dorsally. In addition, Hyperolius s. nigeriensis are larger and have a dark, well delimited area behind eye (phase J) and a broad, dark-delimited dorsolateral stripe (phase F). [3] [4]

Male advertisement call is a series of brief metallic "clicks"; it is not known whether there are differences among the subspecies. [3] [4]

Habitat and conservation

Hyperolius sylvaticus occurs in lowland moist forests as well as in degraded forests and bush land. Breeding takes place in temporary forest ponds. The eggs are placed on leaves above water; the tadpoles fall into the water after hatching. [1]

Hyperolius sylvaticus is an abundant species. It is somewhat adaptable, but does not tolerate complete opening up of its habitat. This makes is vulnerable to habitat change from agricultural expansion and increasing human settlements. [1] It occurs in the Bobiri Forest Reserve and Kakum National Park in Ghana, [5] Taï National Park in Ivory Coast, and Korup National Park in Cameroon, presumably in other protected areas too. [1]

Related Research Articles

Hyperolius bolifambae is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is known from southeastern Nigeria, southern Cameroon, and southwestern Central African Republic, with an isolated record in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo ; the latter record may be considered doubtful. It likely has a broader range towards south and east than currently documented, and the AmphibiaWeb includes Gabon and the Republic of the Congo in the distribution.

Hyperolius brachiofasciatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is known from its type locality, Ngoto in southwestern Central African Republic, from another locality in central Republic of the Congo, and from a number of localities in central Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, as of 2014, IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group considers records other than the one from the type locality erroneous, and that this species likely is a synonym of some other species. Common name Ngoto reed frog has been proposed for it.

Hyperolius camerunensis is a species of reed frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to western and southwestern Cameroon.

<i>Hyperolius concolor</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius concolor, also known as the variable reed frog or Hallowell's sedge frog, is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It occurs in West and Middle Africa.

Hyperolius diaphanus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known from near the Itombwe Mountains and the mountains to the west of Lake Kivu. Limits of its range are not clear and might extend into the adjacent Burundi and Rwanda. Common names Kigulube reed frog and translucent reed frog have been proposed for this species.

<i>Hyperolius fusciventris</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius fusciventris is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It occurs in West and Middle Africa between Sierra Leone in the west and western Cameroon in the east. Common name lime reed frog has been coined for this species.

<i>Hyperolius guttulatus</i> Species of frog

Hyperolius guttulatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It occurs in West and Middle Africa between Sierra Leone in the west and Gabon in the east/south. Common name dotted reed frog has been coined for this species.

Hyperolius igbettensis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in West Africa from Guinea eastward to Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin, Nigeria, and into Central Africa at least to Cameroon but likely further east to the Central African Republic and southwestern Chad; the eastern border of distribution of this species relative to other members in the Hyperolius nasutus complex is unclear. Common name Igbetti long reed frog has been coined for it. The type locality is near Igbetti, a village in Oyo State, Nigeria.

<i>Hyperolius kihangensis</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius kihangensis, also known as the Kihanga reed frog or volcano reed frog, is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains in south-central Tanzania.

<i>Hyperolius minutissimus</i> Species of frog

Hyperolius minutissimus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. Its common names are tiny reed frog and dwarf reed frog. It is endemic to Tanzania and known from the Udzungwa Mountains and from near Njombe in the Southern Highlands.

<i>Hyperolius mitchelli</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius mitchelli is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the area between northeastern Tanzania, Malawi, and central Mozambique.

<i>Hyperolius occidentalis</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius occidentalis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. Its common name is western reed frog. It is found in the coastal lowlands of westernmost West Africa in Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.

<i>Hyperolius picturatus</i> Species of frog

Hyperolius picturatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in northern and eastern Sierra Leone, southern Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana; its range might extend to Togo. Common names coined for this species are Tanzania reed frog and variable montane sedge frog.

<i>Hyperolius tanneri</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius tanneri is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the West Usambara Mountains in northeastern Tanzania. Common name Tanner's reed frog has been coined for this species.

Hyperolius torrentis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is known from the Akwapim-Togo Ranges along the border between Ghana and Togo as well as from northeastern Benin. Common name Ukami reed frog has been coined for this species.

Hyperolius wermuthi is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, southern Guinea, and Liberia. The correct name for this species is likely Hyperolius soror. It is so similar to Hyperolius fusciventris that it has likely been overlooked elsewhere in West Africa. Common name Wermuth's reed frog has been coined for this species.

Savannah forest tree frog Species of amphibian

The savannah forest tree frog or ground tree frog, Leptopelis bufonides, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It occurs in West and Middle Africa. The relationship of this species with Leptopelis bocagei is not fully settled.

<i>Leptopelis macrotis</i> Species of frog

Leptopelis macrotis, sometimes called the big-eyed forest tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the rainforests of Sierra Leone, southern Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and southern Ghana. Notice that similar common name "big-eyed tree frog" is sometimes used for Leptopelis vermiculatus from Tanzania and for Litoria exophthalmia from New Guinea.

The Tai forest tree frog, Leptopelis occidentalis, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Liberia, southern Ivory Coast, and Ghana. Records from Nigeria are controversial and may refer to other species, possibly Leptopelis boulengeri.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Hyperolius sylvaticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T56211A18384172. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T56211A18384172.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Hyperolius sylvaticus Schiøtz, 1967". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hyperolius sylvaticus Schiøtz, 1967". African Amphibians. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Hyperolius sylvaticus". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  5. 1 2 Hillers, Annika; Boateng, Caleb Ofori; Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoudé; Agyei, Alex Cudjoe; Rödel, Mark-Oliver (2009). "Assessment of the amphibians in the forests of southern Ghana and western Togo". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 85 (1): 127–141. doi:10.1002/zoos.200800019.
  6. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Hyperolius bobirensis Schiøtz, 1967". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
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