Leptopelis viridis (Günther, 1869)

Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoudé, Ohler, Annemarie, Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Luiselli, Luca & Dubois, Alain, 2024, Amphibians of Togo: taxonomy, distribution and conservation status, Zoosystema 46 (25), pp. 631-670 : 638-639

Leptopelis viridis (Günther, 1869)

( Fig. 3F )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Togo • 3 ♂; Akloa ; MNHN-RA-2008.0126-0128 • 3 ♂; Kara; MNHN-RA-1993.6094-6096 • 2 ♂; Lomé ; MNHN-RA-1993.6097, MNHN-RA-1993.6098 • 2 ♂; Siou; Coll. GHS-W 1379, Coll. GHS-W 1380 .

DESCRIPTION. — Tree frog of medium size (SVL 31.5-35.5 mm ♂), relatively elongated. Snout rounded, slightly oval. Head wider than long (HW 36-43% SVL; HL 34-40% SVL). Tympanum distinct (TYD 7-9% SVL).Tibia short (TL 37-50% SVL). Webbing present, rudimentary, leaving up to four phalanges free; webbing formula: I 2 – 2 ½ II 2 – 3 III 2 – 4 IV 3 ½ – 2 V. Very prominent subarticular tubercles. Fingers and toes terminated by discs. Smooth skin on back and flanks; belly strongly granular.

COLOURATION. — The dorsal colouration is greyish with a triangular black spot in the orbital region, its tip pointing posteriorly and separating into two branches ending in the posterior part of the back. The loreal and tympanic regions are black. The iris is golden in live specimens, with the sclera of the eye bluish. The dorsal faces of the forearm, thigh and tibia are grayish with dark transverse bands. The belly is white.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. — Males have glandular folds on the throat indicating the subgular vocal sac.

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This species is characteristic of Guinean woodland savannahs, dry and semi-deciduous forests ( Rödel 2000; Channing & Rödel 2019). Males are often perched on shrubs 3 to 4 m high, sometimes on trees 8 to 10 m high in forest areas. The species is common in ecological zone IV (Badou region) and in zone II along the Fazao mountain range to the latitude of Alédjo. Bourgat (1979), Hillers et al. (2009) and Segniagbeto et al. (2022) reported its presence in ecological zones II, III and IV of the country.

TAXONOMIC REMARKS. — Ahl (1924, 1929) described Leptopelis nanus Ahl, 1924 and Leptopelis togoensis Ahl, 1929 from Togo. Both are considered junior subjective synonyms of Hylambates viridis .

Figures

FIG. 3. — Representatives of anuran species from Togo in life: A-D, different colour morphs of Arthroleptis poecilonotus Peters, 1863 complex: A, (Akloa); B, (Alédjo); C, (Akloa); D, (Diguendue); E, Leptopelis spiritusnoctis RÖdel, 2007 (Kouma Tokpli); F, Leptopelis viridis (Günther, 1869) (Siou).