B RE VI O R A
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us ISSN 0006-9698
CAMBRiDCiE, Mass.
2 February 2009
Number 515
A NEW SQUEAKER FROG (ARTHROLEPTIDAE: ARTHROLEPTIS) FROM THE
CAMEROON VOLCANIC LINE WITH REDESCRIPTIONS OF ARTHROLEPTIS
ADOLFIFR/EDER/C/ NIEDEN, 1911 "1910" AND A. VARIABILIS MATSCHIE, 1893
David C. Blackburn,' Legrand N. Gonwouo,-Raffael Ernst,^ and Mark-Oliver Rodel^
Abstract. We describe a new species of squeaker frog {Arthrolcpiis) from Mt. Manengouba in southwestern
Cameroon. The new species is distinguished from other Cameroonian Artlirolcptis by moderately larger body size; a
darkened throat and posterior thigh, both with many white spots; and, in females, a fourth fmger longer than the first
and second fingers. This species corresponds to a Cameroonian taxon previously identified as Artlirolcptis
adolfijriederici but which has been long recognized as distinct. Multivariate morphometric analysis demonstrates that
the new taxon is distinct from Arthroleptis variabilis, which occurs in the surrounding lowlands. Because of the
general similarity of the new species to A. variabilis and its previous confusion with A. adolfifriederici, redescriptions
of the latter two species are provided. This refinement of taxonomic knowledge will facilitate future study of cryptic
or undescribed large Arthroleptis from western, central, and eastern Africa.
Key words: Amphibia; Anura; new species; biodiversity hotspot; Cameroon highlands; central Africa
Resume. Nous decrivons une nouvelle espece de grenouille (Arthroleptis) du Mont Manengouba au sud du
Cameroun. La nouvelle espece se distingue des autres Arthroleptis Camerounaises par sa moderement plus grande
taille corporelle, de nombreux points blancs trouves a la fois sur le cou sombre et sur les cuisses posterieures, et, chez
les femelles, un quatrieme doigt plus long que les premier et deuxieme doigts. Cette espece correspond a un taxon
Camerounais prealablement identifie en tant que A. adolfifriederici. mais qui est depuis longtemps reconnu comme
distinct de celui-ci. Des analyses morphometriques multivariees demontrent que ce nouveau taxon est different de A.
variabilis, qui est trouve dans les basses plaines environnantes. Du fait de la confusion anterieure entre la nouvelle
espece et A. adolfifriederici, et du fait de sa ressemblance a A. variabilis, nous decrivons a nouveau ces dernieres deux
' Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, University of Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas 66045,
U.S. A; e-mail: dblackb(ajfas. harvard.edu
"Cameroon Biodiversity Conservation Society, Yaounde, Cameroon; e-mail: lgonwouo(a yahoo.com
'Department of Biodiversity Dynamics, Technische Universitiit Berlin, D-12165, Berlin, Germany; e-mail:
raffael.ernst(a tu-berlin.de
A new squeaker frog (Arthroleptidae: Arthroleptis) from the Cameroon Volcanic Line with redescriptions of Arthroleptis adolfifriederici Nieden, 1911 "1910" and A. variabilis Matschie, 1893
BioStor
