Hyperolius chlorosteus (Boulenger, 1915)

Kanga, Kouassi Philippe, Kouamé, N’Goran Germain, Zogbassé, Parfait, Gongomin, Basseu Aude-Inès, Agoh, Konan Laurent, Kouamé, Akoua Michèle, Konan, Jean Christophe B. Y. N., Adepo-Gourène, Abouo Béatrice, Gourène, Germain & Rödel, Mark-Oliver, 2021, Amphibian diversity of a West African biodiversity hotspot: an assessment and commented checklist of the batrachofauna of the Ivorian part of the Nimba Mountains, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 275) 15 (1), pp. 71-107 : 84

Hyperolius chlorosteus (Boulenger, 1915)

Large Green Reed Frog

Material: Three males, NGK-Nimba 0075 ( Fig. 8G ), NGK-Nimba 0076 ( Fig. 8H ), NGK-Nimba 0088 .

Comments: Hyperolius chlorosteus is common along streams in pristine forest from western Ivory Coast to Sierra Leone ( Schiøtz 1967; Channing and Rödel 2019). In Ivory Coast, it was reported from the rainforest zone, i.e., the Taï National Park (e.g., Schiøtz 1967; Rödel et al. 2002), as well as from the edge of the forest zone in the Mount Sangbé National Park (Rödel 2003). Records from Mount Péko National Park (Rödel and Ernst 2003) and the Haute Dodo and Cavally forests ( Rödel and Branch 2002) may no longer exist. Thus, our records of H. chlorosteus from Mounts Nimba, confirming the records by Schiøtz (1967), show that the species prevailed, at least here, through the past 50 years. The species was frequently recorded at night along streams in the primary forest. After a heavy rainfall, a vast number of males (N> 50) were heard calling from high up in tall trees along a torrent stream (07°34.652’N, 008°24.966’W; 716 m asl). Five males were captured, and their body sizes ranged from 33.2–37.0 mm. They showed some variation of their back coloration, however, within the range known for the species (compare Schiøtz 1967; Channing and Rödel 2019). We found one male in sympatry with L. macrotis in a degraded forest during the rainy season (07°31.932’N, 008°25.508’W; 387 m asl), perched up at approximately 1.80 m above the ground, close to a large stream. Most males, however, called from much higher sites.

Figures

Fig. 8. Conrauid, dicroglossid, hemisotid, and hyperoliids from Mount Nimba Integrated Nature Reserve: Conraua alleni (A–B); Hoplobatrachus occipitalis (C); Hemisus marmoratus (D); Afrixalus dorsalis (E); A. fulvovittatus (F); Hyperolius chlorosteus (G–H).