Leptopelis kivuensis

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Leptopelis kivuensis
Kivu Treefrog (Leptopelis kivuensis) (7073641407).jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Arthroleptidae
Genus: Leptopelis
Species:
L. kivuensis
Binomial name
Leptopelis kivuensis
Ahl, 1929
Synonyms [2]
  • Leptopelis graueri Ahl, 1929
  • Leptopelis rugegensis Ahl, 1929

Leptopelis kivuensis is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the highlands of western Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, and in the extreme eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. [1] [2] [3] It has been considered synonym of Leptopelis karissimbensis , and has been confused with that species. [2] [4] Common names Kisenyi forest treefrog and Kivu tree frog have been coined for it. [2] [5]

Contents

Description

Adult males measure 28–37 mm (1.1–1.5 in) in snout–vent length. [4] The tympanum is small. [3] The fingers and toes have reduced webbing. [3] [4] Dorsal coloration is variable and adult males may be tan, reddish-brown, or light green. Some tan or brown individuals bear light brown triangular patterns between the eyes and sacrum, an irregular dark brown line running from the canthus rostralis through the eye and over the tympanum and to the forelimb, dark brown spots on the flanks, and dark brown crossbars on the upper side of the limbs. A white or cream spot under the eye may be present, albeit being indistinct. [4] Males have a white gular vocal sac. [3] [4]

The male advertisement call is a pulsed, single clack repeated in rapid succession. Double clacks are also possible. [4]

Habitat and conservation

Leptopelis kivuensis is associated with forests at elevations of 1,481–2,600 m (4,859–8,530 ft) above sea level. It occurs in montane wetlands and forest ecotones. Breeding takes place in seasonally flooded swamp forests. [1] The eggs are buried in nests in the ground. The onset of heavy rains causes the eggs to hatch, and the flooding washes the tadpoles into water. [1] [5]

This species is probably affected by habitat loss caused by agriculture, wood extraction, and human settlements. However, much of its range is within national parks: Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga National Parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwenzori Mountains, Kibale, and Bwindi National Parks in Uganda, and Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Leptopelis is a genus of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. They are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding Madagascar. It is placed in monotypic subfamily Leptopelinae, although this subfamily is not always recognized. They have a number of common names, including forest treefrogs, tree frogs, leaf-frogs, and big-eyed frogs.

<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.

Bocage’s tree frog, Leptopelis bocagii, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and possibly Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda.

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.

Leptopelis christyi, also known as the Christy's tree frog or Christy's forest treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is known with confidence from eastern and northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, southern and western Uganda, and northwestern Tanzania. It is likely to occur in Burundi and Rwanda, possibly ranging further in East Africa. There is an isolated population in Cameroon and Gabon that might represent a distinct species. The specific name christyi honours Dr. Cuthbert Christy, a British army doctor who collected the holotype.

Leptopelis concolor is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the coastal lowlands of southern Somalia, Kenya, and northeastern Tanzania. Common names triad tree frog, Witu forest treefrog, and pale-coloured tree frog have been coined for it.

Leptopelis fiziensis, also known as the Mokanga forest tree frog or Fizi tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is known from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania, on both sides of Lake Tanganyika, and it is likely to occur in Burundi, in between the two know areas of distribution.

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

Leptopelis flavomaculatus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the lowlands eastern and southern Africa, from Mozambique north of the Save River and Zimbabwe to Malawi, eastern Tanzania, and coastal Kenya. Its common names are yellow-spotted tree frog, brown-backed tree frog, brown forest treefrog, and Johnston's treefrog.

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

Leptopelis gramineus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia and occurs on the Ethiopian Highlands on both sides of the Great Rift Valley. Common names Badditu forest treefrog and Ethiopian burrowing tree frog have been coined for it.

Leptopelis karissimbensis is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the highlands of western Rwanda and southwestern Uganda and in the adjacent eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is very similar to Leptopelis kivuensis and has been confused with that species. Common names Karissimbi forest treefrog and Karissimbi tree frog have been coined for it.

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

Leptopelis millsoni is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and northwestern Angola. Common names Niger forest treefrog and Millson's Tree Frog have been coined for it. There is a need of taxonomic revision of this taxon.

Leptopelis modestus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. Its common names are modest forest treefrog and plain tree frog.

Leptopelis nordequatorialis, also known as the West Cameroon forest treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in central and western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. It is closely related to Leptopelis anchietae and Leptopelis oryi.

Leptopelis oryi, also known as the Garamba forest treefrog and Ory's tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northwestern Uganda, and adjacent South Sudan. It is morphologically similar to Leptopelis nordequatorialis from Cameroon, and has also been considered its synonym, but is currently treated as a distinct species. The specific name oryi honours Albert Ory, warden in the Garamba National Park, the type locality of this species.

Leptopelis parbocagii, also known as Lake Upemba forest treefrog or cryptic tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. The specific name parbocagii refers to its similarity to Leptopelis bocagii.

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

Leptopelis parkeri is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Tanzania and known from the Eastern Arc Mountains. Specifically, it has been recorded from Uluguru, Udzungwa, East and West Usambara, Nguru, and South Pare Mountains. Common names Parker's tree frog and Parker's forest treefrog have been coined for it. It is named after Hampton Wildman Parker, a British zoologist and herpetologist from the Natural History Museum, London.

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

Leptopelis parvus, also known as the Kanole forest treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is only known from the Upemba National Park.

Red tree frog Species of amphibian

The red tree frog, Leptopelis rufus, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southeasternmost Nigeria, western Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, western Gabon, the lower Republic of the Congo, the lower Democratic Republic of the Congo, and northwestern Angola. It has been confused with several other species, in particular with the palm forest tree frog Leptopelis palmatus.

Leptopelis susanae is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to southwest Ethiopia and known from the Gughe Mountains and Saja Forest. The specific name susanae honours Susan, the wife of the describer, Malcolm Largen. Common names Susan's tree frog and Susana's [sic] forest treefrog have been coined for this species.

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

Leptopelis viridis is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is widely distributed in the West and Central African savanna zone between Senegal and the Gambia to the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2016). "Leptopelis kivuensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T56261A3036750. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T56261A3036750.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Leptopelis kivuensis Ahl, 1929". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Leptopelis kivuensis". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Roelke, Corey E.; Greenbaum, Eli; Kusamba, Chifundera; Aristote, Mwenebatu M. & Smith, Eric N. (2011). "Systematics and conservation status of two distinct Albertine Rift treefrogs, Leptopelis karissimbensis and Leptopelis kivuensis (Anura: Arthroleptidae)". Journal of Herpetology. 45 (3): 343–351. doi:10.1670/10-092.1.
  5. 1 2 "Leptopelis kivuensis Ahl, 1929". African Amphibians. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
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