Leptopelis calcaratus (Boulenger, 1906)

Badjedjea, Gabriel, Masudi, Franck M., Akaibe, Benjamin Dudu & Gvoždík, Václav, 2022, Amphibians of Kokolopori: an introduction to the amphibian fauna of the Central Congolian Lowland Forests, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 301) 16 (1), pp. 35-70 : 45

Leptopelis calcaratus (Boulenger, 1906) Leptopelis calcaratus meridionalis Laurent, 1973

Fig. 5A–B.

Area: Yalokole, Yotemankele.

Season/survey: Wet (May 2018), dry (Aug 2019).

Material: CSB:Herp: RNBK 144, 541, 542.

Comments: This taxon has not been reported since its description. Here, three males were found in primary forest on tree branches (4 m high in one case) several meters from streams. Two color morphs were recorded, two males were brown ( Fig. 5A) and one was contrasting orange-black ( Fig. 5B). It is worth noting that a similar orange morph was documented by Amiet (2012) as a rare coloration in L. calcaratus from Cameroon. These treefrogs were identified based on a comparison with the type material of L. calcaratus meridionalis . This subspecies was described as distributed south of the wide Congo River arc, while the populations to the east, north, and west were identified as belonging to the nominotypical subspecies ( Laurent 1973). This taxon morphologically differs in several features, most importantly by a less developed spur on the heel and more extensive foot webbing. The level of distinction of this central Congolian taxon needs to be further investigated as it may represent a full species.