Hyperolius tuberculatus

Hyperolius tuberculatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. Its common name is rainforest reed frog.[2] It ranges from the southeastern Nigeria to the Central Africa in Cameroon, western Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is also likely to occur in the Cabinda enclave of Angola.[1][2]

Hyperolius tuberculatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Hyperolius
Species:
H. tuberculatus
Binomial name
Hyperolius tuberculatus
(Mocquard, 1897)
Synonyms[2]

Rappia tuberculata Mocquard, 1897

Taxonomy and systematics

edit

Hyperolius tuberculatus is part of the so-called H. tuberculatus complex, which also includes Hyperolius dintelmanni and Hyperolius hutsebauti. Molecular data suggest that specimens from the eastern part of the range of H. tuberculatus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are actually H. hutsebauti, but the actual limits of these species are not known because of the lack of samples.[3]

Description

edit

Adult males measure 28–32 mm (1.1–1.3 in) and adult females 30–36 mm (1.2–1.4 in) in snout–vent length. The dorsum is warty and shows an hour-glass pattern. The pupil is horizontal. There is no distinct phase F ("female phase") colouring, but females are often uniformly coloured.[4]

Habitat and conservation

edit

Hyperolius tuberculatus is found in forest clearings and heavily degraded former forest as well as in secondary forest in the central African rainforest belt; it does not occur in closed, undisturbed forest. Its breeding habitat is flexible: breeding can take place in both still and flowing water, and in both temporary and permanent waterbodies. This common and adaptable species is not facing any significant threats.[1]

 
Dorsal view

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2017). "Hyperolius tuberculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T56216A97523116. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T56216A97523116.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Hyperolius tuberculatus (Mocquard, 1897)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  3. ^ Bell, Rayna C.; Parra, Juan L.; Badjedjea, Gabriel; Barej, Michael F.; Blackburn, David C.; Burger, Marius; Channing, Alan; Dehling, Jonas Maximilian; Greenbaum, Eli; et al. (2017). "Idiosyncratic responses to climate-driven forest fragmentation and marine incursions in reed frogs from Central Africa and the Gulf of Guinea Islands". Molecular Ecology. 26 (19): 5223–5244. doi:10.1111/mec.14260. PMID 28753250.
  4. ^ "Hyperolius tuberculatus". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2018.