Leptopelis spiritusnoctis Rödel, 2007

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

Leptopelis spiritusnoctis Rödel, 2007

( Fig. 3E )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Togo • 2 ♂; Akloa; MNHN-RA-2008.0118; Coll . GHS-W 0670 • 2 ♂; 1 ♀; Fazao ; MNHN-RA-2008.0120, MNHN-RA-2008.0122, MNHN-RA-2008.0124 • 1 ♂; Oga ; MNHN-RA-2008.0119 • 1 ♂; Yégué; Coll . GHS-W 0642 • 1 ♀; Alédjo ; MRAC 73.9.B.372 • 2 ♀; Kouma-Tokpli ; MNHN-RA-2008.0121, MNHN-RA-2008.0123 .

DESCRIPTION. — Tree frog of medium size (SVL 32.5-36.5 ♂ mm, 38.5-45.5 mm ♀), with a fairly robust elongated body. Snout rounded and oval. Head wider than long (HW 37-46% SVL; HL 35-42% SVL). Tympanum distinct (TYD 6-9% SVL). Tibia short (TL 40-47% SVL). Webbing moderate, leaving two phalanges free; webbing formula: I 1 – 1 II 1 – 2 III 1 – 2 IV 2 – 1 V. Very prominent subarticular tubercles. Fingers and toes ending in discs without grooves. Smooth skin on back and flanks, belly strongly granular.

COLOURATION. — The dorsal colouration is brown with a transverse triangular dark spot in the orbital region, splitting into two branches and extending in the posterior part of the back. The loreal and tympanic regions are black. The iris is golden in live specimens, its upper part being orange-red in colour. The belly is whitish.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. — Males have glandular folds on the throat indicating the subgular vocal sac. Females with a convoluted oviduct have large white oocytes.

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This species has been reported from Yégué, Akloa and Missahohé in Togo by Hillers et al. (2009). Segniagbeto et al. (2022) reports its occurrence in ecological zone III of the country. It occurs in forests or wooded savannahs. It is common in ecological zones IV and II (Kouma, Badou, Adélè, Fazao and Alédjo regions). Males are often found near streams (small rivers or torrents). Observations have been made in the Fazao Malfakassa National Park at elevations above 1000 m.

REMARK. — Leptopelis spiritusnoctis has many morphological similarities with L. viridis (Günther, 1869) . With some experience, L. viridis can be recognised by its “rounder” and more “bulgy” body; L. spiritusnoctis has a more “edgy” body shape and a shorter head. The easiest criteria available for field identification are the male advertisement calls and the colouration of the upper edge of the eye in live specimens. In L. viridis , the male advertisement call is composed of two notes while the male calls in L. spiritusnoctis consist in only one note. Leptopelis spiritusnoctis often also utters a very faint territorial call (“krrkrrr”). For call variation in L. viridis , see Grafe et al. (2000). L. spiritusnoctis has a golden iris with an orange-red coloured spot in the upper part, whereas in L. viridis the iris is entirely golden brown and the sclera blackish. The two taxa may overlap in some habitats, i.e., wooded savannahs, dry and semi-deciduous forests. In open savannah, only L. viridis will be encountered, whereas this species does not enter closed forest. In alcohol, both taxa are difficult to distinguish.

TAXONOMIC REMARKS. — This species has long been called Leptopelis hyloides ( Boulenger, 1906) , but the study of the “ Hylambates hyloides ” type specimen identified L. hyloides as a synonym of L. viridis (Rödel 2007) .

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).