Leptopelis ocellatus (Mocquard, 1902)

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 : 47

Leptopelis ocellatus (Mocquard, 1902)

Leptopelis ocellatus schiotzi Laurent, 1973

Fig. 5F–H .

Area: Yalokole, Yetee, Yotemankele.

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

Material: CSB:Herp: RNBK 007, 012, 018, 028, 035, 037, 041, 071, 078, 089, 121, 126, 138, 144, 158, 239, 268, 285, 294, 380, 415, 417, 418, 420, 421, 423, 442, 506, 521; IVB-H-CD 18085, 18086, 18146, 18161, 18168, 18169, 18252, 18258–18262, 18295, 18296, 18334–18337, 18340, 18388, 18389.

Comments: Like L. calcaratus meridionalis , this taxon has not been reported since its description. It is supposedly endemic to the Central Congolian forests. In comparison to the nominotypical subspecies, which occurs in western Central Africa, L. ocellatus schiotzi is more robust and has a relatively shorter and wider head ( Laurent 1973). The degree of differentiation of these two taxa needs to be thoroughly investigated to determine whether the central Congolian taxon may represent a separate species. The sexual size dimorphism is conspicuous, with females much larger than males ( Fig. 5F ). This treefrog seems to be one of the most common species, occurring in a wide range of habitats, most often in disturbed habitats or ecotones between forest and open areas near streams. Males often call from high positions.

Figures

Fig. 5. Arthroleptids, Leptopelis. (A) L. calcaratus meridionalis, brown morph (male). (B) L. calcaratus meridionalis, orange-black morph (male). (C) L. christyi, brown morph (male). (D) L. christyi, green morph (male). (E) L. christyi (juvenile). (F) L. ocellatus schiotzi (amplectant pair). (G) L. ocellatus schiotzi (male). (H) L. ocellatus schiotzi (female).