Arthroleptis stenodactylus Pfeffer, 1893

Bittencourt-Silva, Gabriela B., Bayliss, Julian & Conradie, Werner, 2020, First herpetological surveys of Mount Lico and Mount Socone, Mozambique, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 247) 14 (2), pp. 198-217 : 204

Arthroleptis stenodactylus Pfeffer, 1893

Shovel-footed Squeaker

Material. MOUNT LICO (base): BMNH 2018.2480; MOUNT LICO (top): BMNH 2018.2469–79, PEM A13716–21, PEM A13730, PEM A13735, MHNM: WC-6475; MOUNT SOCONE (base): BMNH 2018.2481. Identification. Two forms were identified (see Comments). The form (abundantly) found on top of Mount Lico ( Fig. 3C ) differs from the lowland form found at the bases of Mounts Lico and Socone in having a dusky venter (especially the pectoral area), whereas the latter is immaculate ( Fig. 3D ). All specimens have well-developed inner metatarsal tubercles, a dark band from the tip of the snout to the eye, continuing from the posterior corner of the eye towards the arm insertion but not reaching it. The BLAST results indicate that the lowland/woodland form is 100% similar to A. stenodactylus from Malawi ( FJ 151098–99), whereas the mountain/forest form is 98% similar to A. stenodactylus from Tanzania (KY177077). Sequence similarity between the mountain/forest form from Mount Lico and the lowland/woodland from Malawi ( FJ 151098–99) is 92%. The uncorrected pairwise distance between the 16S sequences of samples collected on top of Mount Lico and the samples collected at the base of the two mountains is 8%. Comments. According to the literature (see Loveridge 1953, p. 389; Pickersgill 2007, p. 305) and personal experience ( GBBS), there are at least two forms currently being assigned to this name, a mountain/ forest form and a lowland/woodland and savannah form. Differences between the montane and lowland forms of Arthroleptis stenodactylus have been observed in other areas in Mozambique ( GBBS, pers. obs.). Remains of a spider (possibly Gasteracantha ) were found in the stomach contents of one specimen from Mount Lico.

Figures

Fig. 3. Amphibians from Mount Lico and Mount Socone, northern Mozambique. (A) Arthroleptis aff. francei; (B) Arthroleptis sp.; (C) A. stenodactylus (mountain form); (D) A. stenodactylus (lowland form); (E) A. xenodactyloides; (F) Leptopelis broadleyi; (G) L. flavomaculatus; (H) Breviceps sp.; (I) Mertensophryne cf. loveridgei; (J) Sclerophrys gutturalis; (K) Hemisus marmoratus; (L) Hyperolius marmoratus albofasciatus; (M–O) H. substriatus; (P) H. tuberilinguis; (Q) Nothophryne sp.; (R) Scolecomorphus kirkii.