Arthroleptis aff. francei Loveridge, 1953

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 : 202

Arthroleptis aff. francei Loveridge, 1953

France’s Squeaker

Material. MOUNT SOCONE (top): BMNH 2018.2466. Identification. This single specimen ( Fig. 3A ) morphologically resembles A. francei in having a relatively small inner metatarsal tubercle; swollen toe tips; and a dark brown band from canthus rostralis, continuing as a broader supratympanic band extending posteroventrally and terminating just dorsal of the arm. The BLAST search confirms the affinity with A. francei from Malawi (96% sequence similarity; FJ 151100). Comments. Arthroleptis francei is listed as Vulnerable ( IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group and South African Frog Re-assessment Group 2016) because it is only known from three threatdefined locations. This species likely represents a species complex that occurs in montane regions of Malawi and northern Mozambique (see photo in Conradie et al. 2016). A review of these populations is crucial to more accurately assess the taxonomic and conservation statuses of A. francei .

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.