Nimba mountain reed frog

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Nimba mountain reed frog
Systematics
without rank: Amphibians (Lissamphibia)
Order : Frog (anura)
Subordination : Neobatrachia
Family : Reed frogs (Hyperoliidae)
Genre : Hyperolius
Type : Nimba mountain reed frog
Scientific name
Hyperolius nimbae
Laurent , 1958

The Nimba mountain reed frog ( Hyperolius nimbae ) is a reed frog endemic to the Republic of Ivory Coast and named after the Nimba Mountains . The frog was thought to be extinct between 1967 and its rediscovery in 2010 .

features

The Nimba mountain reed frog is one of the larger reed frogs, the males reach 30–37 mm, the females 34–38 mm. The species changes its drawing during development. Juvenile animals and many fully developed males (phase J) are usually brownish to green with paired light dorsolateral lines or an hourglass-like pattern . Before their first breeding season (phase F), all fully developed females and some males are greyish with black spots or spots. The legs are bright red. The back is grainy or warty. They have extensive webbed feet and horizontally lying pupils.

distribution and habitat

The habitat of the Nimba mountain reed frog are swamp edges and clearings in the lowlands on the southeast edge of Mont Richard-Molard (Mont Nimba). There may also be populations in Guinea and Liberia .

Way of life

The males call from the grass on the edge of large, presumably temporary swamps . The calls are a quick series of clicks with a clear, small bell-like sound. The clicks always take place in series, individual clicks do not occur. The well-defined, highest sound intensity of a click is at a frequency of 2400 Hz and is very similar to the single call of Hyperolius viridiflavus .

Taxonomy

After Schiøtz, 1999, the hyperolius nimbae belongs to Hyperolius-tuberculatus group within the Hyperolius-viridiflavus - species complex . Sometimes it is viewed as a subspecies of Hyperolius tuberculatus , but based on the different calls Schiøtz considers it a distinct species.

Hazard and protection

The distribution area of ​​the Nimba mountain reed frog covers less than 5,000 km²; it occurs in fewer than five locations and its habitat on and on Mont Nimba is declining in spread and quality. The Nimba mountain reed frog is apparently very common in its limited habitats, but populations are declining. The nature of the hazard is difficult to determine because nothing is known about its adaptability. However, it could be affected by the expansion of agriculture, deforestation and human settlement. Even if part of the Nimba Mountains is designated as a nature reserve, the Nimba Mountain Reed Frog is not native to any protected area. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has classified the species as Endangered (EN).

literature

  • RF Laurent: La reserve naturelle integrale du Mont Nimba - Les rainettes du genre Hyperolius. Memoires de l'Institution Fondamental d'Afrique Noire, pp. 275–299, 1958 (first description)
  • RF Laurent: Nouveaux commentaires sur la superespece Hyperolius viridiflavus (Anura). Annales Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, pp. 73-114, 1976
  • A. Schiøtz: The treefrogs (Rhacophoridae) of West Africa. Spolia Zoologica Musei Hauniensi, pp. 1-346, 1967
  • A. Schiøtz: The superspecies Hyperolius viridiflavus (Anura). Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening, pp. 21–76, 1971
  • A. Schiøtz: Treefrogs of Africa. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main 1999

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Richard Black: 'Lost' frogs found after decades. BBC News, Science and Environment, September 22, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2013
  2. ↑ Mount Nimba reed frog ( Hyperolius nimbae ) at Conservation International ( Online )
  3. ↑ a b Hyperolius nimbae in Amphibiaweb
  4. ↑ a b IUCN
  5. ↑ Darrel R. Frost: Hyperolius nimbae Laurent, 1958. In: Amphibian Species of the World 6.0 ( Online )

Web links