ZooKeys 356: 69–102, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.356.5878
Diversity of Ptychadena in Rwanda and taxonomic status of P. chrysogaster Laurent, 1954 (Amphibia, Anura, Ptychadenidae)
J. Maximilian Dehling 1, Ulrich Sinsch 1
1 Institut für Integrierte Naturwissenschaften, Abteilung Biologie, Universität Koblenz-Landau, Universitätsstraße 1, D–56070 Koblenz, Germany

Corresponding author: J. Maximilian Dehling (dehling@uni-koblenz.de)

Academic editor: Franco Andreone

received 30 June 2013 | accepted 4 November 2013 | Published 28 November 2013


(C) 2013 J. Maximilian Dehling. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0 (CC-BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


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Citation: Dehling JM, Sinsch U (2013) Diversity of Ptychadena in Rwanda and taxonomic status of P. chrysogaster Laurent, 1954 (Amphibia, Anura, Ptychadenidae). ZooKeys 356: 69–102. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.356.5878

Abstract

We assess the diversity of Ptychadena species in Rwanda based on re-examination of voucher specimens in museum collections and our own data from recent assessment of the species composition of amphibian communities in Rwanda. We recognize five species which we allocate to the following available names: P. anchietae, P. chrysogaster, P. nilotica, P. porosissima, and P. uzungwensis. We did not find evidence for the presence of P. grandisonae and P. oxyrhynchus which have been listed for the country. The five species can be distinguished by quantitative morphometrics (discriminant analysis, success rate: 100 %) and a number of qualitative characters of external morphology. We provide an identification key to the Rwandan species and describe the morphology of each species in detail. The taxonomic status and the phylogenetic position of Ptychadena chrysogaster are further assessed based on the partial sequence of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA. The species differs genetically from available homologous sequences from congeners by an uncorrected p distance of at least 4.2 % and appears to be most closely related to specimens assigned to P. porosissima, P. mahnerti, “P. aff. uzungwensis” and “P. aff. bibroni”.

Keywords

P. anchietae, P. grandisonae, P. nilotica, P. porosissima, P. uzungwensis, DNA barcoding, systematics

Introduction

Ridged Frogs of the genus Ptychadena Boulenger, 1917 are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa where approximately 50 species occur. Species of the genus share a similar general appearance and many are poorly delimited, having been described based on taxonomically doubtful characters. Several species names have been erroneously considered synonyms of others, thus confusing character diagnoses in subsequent accounts; and some taxa were described based on specimens later found to represent more than one species (e.g. Boulenger 1879; Loveridge 1932; Laurent 1954; Guibé and Lamotte 1957; Schmidt and Inger 1959; Lamotte 1967; Poynton 1970; Rödel 2000; Channing 2001; Channing and Howell 2006; Dehling and Sinsch in press). Therefore, even the local/regional diversity of these frogs is often difficult to assess. Herein, we address the diversity of Ridged Frogs in Rwanda. We have recently shown that three species (Ptychadena anchietae [Bocage, 1868], Ptychadena nilotica [Seetzen, 1855], and Ptychadena porosissima [Steindachner, 1867]) inhabit the wetlands along the upper Nile (Dehling and Sinsch in press). Further taxa have been reported from Rwanda and it is currently unclear which species actually occur in the country. Nieden (1913) reported Ptychadena nilotica (referred to as Rana mascareniensis Duméril & Bibron, 1841) from several localities in Rwanda. Based on his own collections, Laurent (1954) reported Ptychadena uzungwensis (Loveridge, 1932) and described Ptychadena chrysogaster Laurent, 1954 and Ptychadena loveridgei Laurent, 1954 as new species, the latter now being considered a synonym of Ptychadena porosissima (Schmidt and Inger 1959). Poynton and Broadley (1985), Channing (2001), and Poynton and Channing (2004) stated that Ptychadena grandisonae Laurent, 1954 occurs in Rwanda. Fischer and Hinkel (1992) listed only “Ptychadena mascareniensis” [= Ptychadena nilotica]. Poynton et al. (2004) stated that Ptychadena anchietae was likely to occur in Rwanda but confirmed records were missing. According to Spawls et al. (2006), Ptychadena chrysogaster, Ptychadena mascareniensis, and Ptychadena uzungwensis occur in Rwanda but not Ptychadena anchietae and Ptychadena porosissima. Branch (2005) included Rwanda in the geographic range of Ptychadena oxyrhynchus (Smith, 1849). Recently, we collected Ptychadena anchietae in Rwanda and resurrected the name Ptychadena nilotica for the populations which occur along the Nile and in Central Kenya and Tanzania and which had been formerly referred to as Rana mascareniensis or Ptychadena mascareniensis (Sinsch et al. 2012, Dehling and Sinsch in press).

In order to clarify how many and which species occur in Rwanda, we re-examined the specimens of Ptychadena in the herpetological collection of the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium (RMCA), on which almost all previous Rwandan records are based. We herein report the results and compare the findings to our own data from recent assessment of the composition of amphibian communities at numerous locations in Rwanda. We further assess the taxonomic status and the phylogenetic position of Ptychadena chrysogaster based on examination of most of the available voucher material from Rwanda including the type series and on comparison of the partial sequence of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene with homologous sequences of its congeners.

Material and methods
Morphological examination

We examined voucher specimens deposited at RMCA. Additional specimens including our recently collected material are deposited in the collection of the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany (ZFMK). See Appendix 1 for a complete list of examined specimens.

For the morphological analysis, we took the following 18 measurements to the nearest 0.1 mm using digital calipers, following Dehling and Sinsch (in press): (1) Snout-vent length (SVL); (2) tibiofibula length (TFL, measured with both knee and tibio-tarsal articulation flexed); (3) thigh length (THL, from vent to knee with thigh being held vertically to median body plane and knee flexed); (4) total hindlimb length (LEG, from vent to tip of fourth toe with leg fully extended and being held vertically to median body plane); (5) tarsus + foot length (TarL, from tibio-tarsal articulation to tip of fourth toe); (6) foot length (FOT, from proximal end of inner metatarsal tubercle to tip of fourth toe); (7) forearm + hand length (ARM, distance from elbow to tip of third finger); (8) hand length (HND, distance from proximal end of inner palmar tubercle to tip of third finger); (9) head width (HW, measured at the level of the jaw joint); (10) head length (HL, distance from posterior end of mandible to tip of snout); (11) interorbital distance (IO, shortest distance between upper eyelids); (12) upper eyelid width (EW); (13) horizontal eye diameter (ED); (14) horizontal tympanum diameter (TD); (15) eye to nostril distance (EN, distance between anterior margin of eye and centre of nostril); (16) nostril to snout distance (NS, distance between centre of nostril and tip of snout); (17) snout length (SL, distance between anterior margin of eye to tip of snout); (18) internarial distance (NN, distance between centres of nostrils). To avoid an inter-observer bias, all measurements were taken by JMD. Additionally, we recorded the following qualitative characters: (1) position of external vocal sac aperture in males; (2) number of longitudinal dorsal dermal ridges; (3) texture of ventral skin; (4) extent of nuptial pads in males; (5) number of supernumerary metacarpal tubercles; (6) size and shape of thenar and palmar tubercles; (7) extent of toe webbing; (8) presence of outer metatarsal tubercle; (9) relative size of inner metatarsal tubercle; (10) ventral colouration; (11) presence of light line on dorsal face of tibia; (12) presence of light band on dorsum; (13) presence of dark brown stripe on preaxial side of tarsus; (14) colour of external dorsal fold; (15) colour pattern on postaxial side of femur. Sex of males was determined by presence of secondary sexual characteristics (vocal slits, nuptial pads), that of females by either examination of gonads through dissection or size (female if larger than smallest 10 percent of adult males). The webbing formulae are given as proposed by Myers and Duellman (1982). Terminology for dermal dorsal ridges and orientation of external vocal sac aperture follows Perret (1979).

Statistical Analyses

Descriptive statistics depended on the outcome of the test for normality. Normally distributed data were described by the arithmetic mean and corresponding standard error and/or range, those deviating significantly by median and range. Principal component analyses were run on the morphometric data set including 18 variables and 89 observations each (Ptychadena anchietae: 15 males, 3 females; Ptychadena chrysogaster: 13 males, 10 females; Ptychadena nilotica: 13 males, 10 females; Ptychadena porosissima: 11 males, 7 females; Ptychadena uzungwensis: 6 males, 1 female). We compared the scores obtained for the principal components 2 and 3 describing shape to distinguish taxa without a priori assignment to taxa. The morphometric distances were adjusted for SVL by calculating a linear regression of each variable against SVL and storing the residuals as representatives of size-independent shape variables. This transformed data set was used for discriminant analyses with taxa as predefined groups to optimize distinction. To account for sexual dimorphism, discriminant analyses were run separately for males (n=58) and females (n=31). Significance level was set at alpha = 0.05. All calculations were based on the procedures of the program package STATGRAPHICS centurion for Windows, version XV.

DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analyses

We isolated DNA from a liver tissue sample from a specimen of Ptychadena chrysogaster (ZFMK 58797), collected in southern Rwanda by H. Hinkel in 1993. DNA was used to sequence a fragment of the 16S mitochondrial rRNA gene, a universal marker to barcode amphibian species (Vences et al. 2005). Protocols of DNA extraction, PCR, purification, and sequencing follow Dehling and Sinsch (in press). The obtained sequence was compared with those in GenBank using a standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST search and with our own sequences from Rwandan specimens and was incorporated into an existing alignment (see Dehling and Sinsch in press for a list of sequences and GenBank Accession numbers). Editing and alignment were completed in MEGA5 (Tamura et al. 2011). Sequences were trimmed to the same length. The final alignment consisted of 548 base pairs. Calculations of pairwise distances and phylogenetic analysis (Maximum Likelihood) were carried out in MEGA5. Maximum Likelihood analysis was run using the GTR + G + I model and the Nearest-Neighbor-Interchange with 1000 bootstrap replicates.

Results

Examination of specimens suggested that five morphologically distinct species were present in Rwanda to which we assign the following names: Ptychadena anchietae, Ptychadena chrysogaster, Ptychadena nilotica, Ptychadena porosissima, and Ptychadena uzungwensis (Figures 1 and 2). For allocation of specimens to Ptychadena anchietae, Ptychadena nilotica, and Ptychadena porosissima and discussion thereof see Dehling and Sinsch (in press). The examined material included type specimens of both of Ptychadena chrysogaster and Ptychadena uzungwensis (Appendix 1). Allocation of other specimens to the latter two species is based on direct comparison with the type material. We re-assigned several specimens that had been deposited in the museum collections under wrong names. Noteworthy are two of the paratypes of Ptychadena chrysogaster (RMCA 41989, 41994) which belong in fact to Ptychadena porosissima.

Figure 1.

Males of Ptychadena from Rwanda in life. A Ptychadena anchietae B Ptychadena chrysogaster [Foto: E. Fischer] C Ptychadena nilotica D Ptychadena porosissima.

Figure 2.

A Preserved female holotype of Ptychadena chrysogaster (RMCA 109096) from Lac Karago, Rwanda; dorsal view (left) and ventral view (right) B Preserved male specimen of Ptychadena uzungwensis (RMCA 108993-108997) from Munini, Rwanda; dorsal view (left) and ventral view (right). Not to scale.

Morphological differentiation

The morphometric features of the five species are summarized in Table 2. Principal component analysis yielded three PCs accounting for 89.6% of total variation (Table 3A). PC1 represented variation in size, whereas the shape-related PC2 and PC3 were mainly loaded by features describing head morphology (Table 3B). In females, PC 2 unequivocally distinguished Ptychadena nilotica from the other taxa, and PC 3 unequivocally distinguished Ptychadena chrysogaster from Ptychadena anchietae, Ptychadena porosissima, and Ptychadena uzungwensis (Figure 3A). Also, Ptychadena anchietae and Ptychadena uzungwensis could be distinguished from each other. However, both species were represented by only few individuals (three and one, respectively) in the analysis. The two species did not differ significantly in shape from Ptychadena porosissima (Figure 3A). A similar pattern was observed in the analysis of the males (Figure 3B) but males of all five species were generally more similar to each other in shape. Males of Ptychadena nilotica could be distinguished unequivocally from males of Ptychadena chrysogaster and Ptychadena uzungwensis but not from some of the males of Ptychadena anchietae and Ptychadena porosissima (Figure 3B). Males of Ptychadena chrysogaster could be distinguished from males of all other species but some of the males of Ptychadena anchietae and Ptychadena uzungwensis were very similar in shape (Figure 3B). Males of Ptychadena anchietae did not differ significantly in shape from males of Ptychadena nilotica, Ptychadena porosissima, and Ptychadena uzungwensis. Gender-specific discriminant analyses based on the residuals of 17 SVL-adjusted morphometric variables had a classification success of 100 % among the five species in both males and females (Table 4A, B, C, Figure 4A, B).

Figure 3.

Morphological shape differentiation among 89 specimens representing five Ptychadena species, as assessed by principal component analysis (Table 3). A Individual scores obtained for 31 females B Individual scores obtained for 58 males.

Figure 4.

Morphological shape differentiation among 89 specimens representing five Ptychadena species, as assessed by discriminant analyses (Statistical details are given in Table 4). A Individual scores obtained for 31 females B Individual scores obtained for 58 males.

The five Rwandan species can be distinguished unequivocally from each other using a combination of qualitative morphological characters (Table 1, Figure 5; see also Dehling and Sinsch in press). An identification key based on these characters is given below. Detailed morphological descriptions of the species are in Appendix 2.

Figure 5.

Volar view of hands (top) and plantar view of feet (bottom) of males of Ptychadena anchietae (a), Ptychadena chrysogaster (b), Ptychadena nilotica (c), Ptychadena porosissima (d), and Ptychadena uzungwensis from Rwanda. See also Table 1.

Table 1.

Distinguishing qualitative characters of Ptychadena species from Rwanda.

Species Ptychadena anchietae Ptychadena chrysogaster Ptychadena nilotica Ptychadena porosissima Ptychadena uzungwensis
relative length of Toes III and V tips reaching to knee or slightly beyond, distal subarticular tubercle never reaching knee tips reaching beyond knee, distal subarticular tubercle reaching knee tips reaching beyond knee, distal subarticular tubercle reaching knee or beyond tips reaching to knee or slightly beyond, distal subarticular tubercle never reaching knee tips reaching to knee or slightly beyond, distal subarticular tubercle never reaching knee
position of vocal sac aperture inferior, at ventral edge of arm insertion inferior, at ventral edge of arm insertion superior, above dorsal edge of arm insertion inferior, at ventral edge of arm insertion semi-inferior, at level of centre of arm insertion
spiny tubercles on venter absent present in males, very small absent present in males, comparatively large present in males, very small
median dorsal ridge on snout absent absent absent absent present
outer metatarsal tubercle very faintly visible very faintly visible, rarely distinct distinctly present, rarely faintly visible faintly visible, rarely distinct faintly visible
inner metatarsal tubercle size (Fig. 5) about half the length of metatarsus of Toe I less than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I less than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I more than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I about half the length of metatarsus of Toe I
supernumerary metacarpal tubercles (Fig. 5) one below each finger one below each finger only one below Finger IV, often indistinct one below Fingers I, II, and IV; two, rarely one below Finger III one below Fingers I and IV, two below Finger II, two to four below Finger III
palmar and thenar tubercles (Fig. 5) inner and outer palmar tubercle more or less equal in length; thenar tubercle oval, slightly longer than palmar tubercles outer palmar tubercle longer than inner; thenar tubercle elongate, about as long as outer palmar tubercle outer palmar tubercle longer than inner; thenar tubercle elongate, about as long as outer palmar tubercle outer palmar tubercle longer than inner; thenar tubercle elongate, longer than outer palmar tubercle inner and outer palmar tubercle more or less equal in length; thenar tubercle elongate, longer than palmar tubercles
toe webbing (Fig. 5) I0.5-2II0.5-2III(0.5-1)-2IV2-0.5V I2-2.5II(1.5-1.75)-3III(2-2-)(3.25-3+)IV3-(1.5-2)V I(1.5-1.75)-(2-2.25)II1.5-(2.75-3)III(1.75-2)-3IV2.75-(1-1.5)V I(1.75-2)-2.25II1.5-3III1.75-(3-3.25)IV3-(1-1.5)V I2-(2.25-2.5)II1.5-3-III(1.75-2-)-3IV3-(1+-1.25)V
ventral colouration head white, trunk yellow head and trunk yellow head white, mottled with grey; trunk yellow head and trunk yellow colours in life unreported
dark brown stripe on preaxial side of tibia absent present, continuous or almost continuous absent in most specimens; few specimens with dark mottling, not forming continuous stripe absent absent
light tibial line (Figs 1 & 2) absent usually present, rarely absent present or absent present absent
light dorsal band absent usually present, rarely absent present or absent present or absent present
dark spots on dorsum
(Figs 1 & 2)
usually absent; if present, small and narrow usually present, small and narrow, sometimes forming longitudinal lines; rarely absent present, large and wide, sometimes fused with neighboring ones present, large and wide, sometimes fused with neighboring ones present, large and wide, often fused with neighboring ones
light, prominent dorsolateral fold (Figs 1 & 2) usually absent present present present present
Colour pattern on postaxial side of femur irregularly delimited, reticulated, longitudinal bands, alternately yellow and dark brown coloured irregularly delimited, reticulated, longitudinal dark bands on light background; colours in life unreported relatively sharply delimited longitudinal bands, alternately yellow and black coloured yellow spots diffusely arranged in longitudinal rows on dark brown background irregularly delimited, reticulated, longitudinal light bands on dark background; colours in life unreported
Table 2.

Morphometric features of Ptychadena species from Rwanda. Data are given as arithmetic means and minimum and maximum values (in mm).

Morphometric character Ptychadena anchietae Ptychadena chrysogaster Ptychadena nilotica Ptychadena porosissima Ptychadena uzungwensis
Males
N = 15
Females
N = 3
Males
N = 75/14*
Females
N = 23/11*
Males
N = 13
Females
N = 10
Males
N = 11/20*
Females
N = 9
Males
N = 6
Females
N = 1
Snout-vent length 40.4
(38.0–42.4)
49.0
(46.7–51.3)
43.3
(36.3–49.5)
53.7
(48.0–57.7)
42.0
(37.2–45.2)
49.1
(45.6–53.1)
41.2*
(37.3–44.5)
46.4
(39.0–52.1)
34.7
(33.3–35.7)
43.3
-
Hindlimb length 79.6
(74.2–84.9)
98.9
(96.0–101.2)
88.1
(83.5–93.0)
108.2
(102.3–114.1)
77.2
(70.1–85.2)
89.6
(78.0–103.9)
78.2*
(72.8–85.5)
88.3
(74.3–94.1)
66.7
(61.9–72.7)
81.2
-
Femur length 23.0
(21.9–24.5)
29.0
(28.3–29.6)
23.9
(22.5–25.0)
29.9
(28.1–32.0)
21.5
(19.4–24.0)
25.5
(23.0–28.5)
21.7*
(20.2–24.1)
24.4
(19.8–27.6)
18.7
(17.2–19.6)
23.1
-
Tibiofibula length 26.3
(24.4–28.0)
33.1
(31.9–33.8)
28.4
(24.6–32.0)
35.2
(32.4–38.5)
23.4
(21.1–26.1)
27.5
(23.6–32.1)
24.7*
(23.3–26.5)
28.7
(25.2–31.0)
21.7
(20.3–23.4)
26.9
-
Tarsus length 34.5
(31.6–36.5)
42.7
(40.6–44.1)
40.9*
(38.9–44.1)
49.3*
(46.5–51.3)
36.2
(32.4–40.1)
42.8
(35.9–49.6)
35.5
(33.3–38.8)
40.0
(32.6–43.5)
30.5
(27.9–32.2)
36.0
-
Foot length 24.7
(22.4–26.1)
30.5
(29.1–31.3)
28.4
(24.2–30.4)
34.5
(32.9–36.1)
25.7
(22.8–28.2)
29.3
(25.6–33.9)
24.4
(23.0–26.7)
27.4
(23.1–29.3)
21.0
(19.5–21.9)
28.6
-
Forelimb length 16.9
(15.9–18.1)
21.0
(20.0–21.7)
18.3*
(17.4–19.1)
22.0*
(20.9–23.9)
17.7
(16.0–19.3)
20.5
(17.9–23.7)
17.2
(16.0–18.6)
18.7
(16.1–20.9)
13.5
(12.8–14.4)
16.3
-
Hand length 10.0
(9.5–10.7)
12.3
(12.1–12.6)
10.4*
(9.6–11.1)
12.4*
(11.8–13.3)
10.4
(9.5–11.6)
11.9
(10.6–13.8)
9.7
(8.9–10.8)
10.7
(9.1–11.7)
7.9
(7.4–8.5)
9.0
-
Head width 13.8
(12.5–15.4)
16.7
(16.4–17.0)
13.9
(12.8–14.7)
16.9
(15.4–17.5)
13.8
(12.4–15.9)
16.4
(14.2–18.8)
14.1
(13.1–15.0)
15.1
(12.5–17.1)
11.4
(11.0–11.7)
13.8
-
Head length 15.5
(14.1–17.6)
18.7
(18.2–19.1)
15.6*
(14.7–16.4)
18.6*
(17.9–19.8)
16.2
(14.7–18.4)
18.3
(16.6–20.4)
15.5
(14.2–17.8)
17.1
(13.6–19.1)
13.3
(12.3–14.0)
16.1
-
Interorbital distance 2.8
(2.4–3.1)
3.1
(3.0–3.2)
3.5*
(3.1–3.9)
4.1*
(3.8–4.5)
2.2
(1.9–2.5)
2.5
(2.2 - 2.7)
2.6
(2.3–2.7)
3.1
(2.8–3.6)
2.7
(2.4–3.1)
2.9
-
Eyelid width 2.8
(2.5–3.1)
3.2
(3.0–3.3)
2.7*
(2.4–3.0)
3.3*
(2.9–3.7)
2.7
(2.3–3.2)
3.0
(2.4–3.5)
2.8
(2.3–3.1)
3.1
(2.6–3.5)
2.6
(2.3–2.8)
2.4
-
Eye diameter 4.3
(3.6–4.9)
5.2
(5.0–5.5)
4.3
(3.7–4.9)
5.0
(4.6–5.6)
4.5
(4.1–5.1)
5.1
(4.8–5.5)
4.2
(3.9–4.5)
4.6
(3.9–5.1)
3.9
(3.6–4.1)
4.5
-
Tympanum diameter 3.3
(2.9–3.6)
4.1
(3.7–4.6)
3.7
(3.2–4.2)
4.5
(4.3–5.1)
3.7
(3.3–4.1)
4.1
(3.7–4.7)
3.1
(2.9–3.49
3.6
(3.3–3.9)
2.9
(2.5–3.3)
3.5
-
Eye–nostril distance 4.1
(3.7–4.3)
5.2
(4.9–5.7)
3.9*
(3.5–4.4)
4.6*
(4.0–5.0)
3.6
(3.4–4.0)
4.2
(3.7–4.9)
3.5
(3.1–3.9)
4.2
(3.6–4.7)
3.5
(3.2–3.6)
4.2
-
Snout–nostril distance 3.5
(2.9–4.0)
4.4
(4.3–4.5)
3.9*
(3.5–4.3)
4.3*
(3.9–4.9)
3.4
(2.9–3.8)
3.7
(3.3–4.1)
3.4
(2.9–3.7)
4.1
(2.8–4.7)
3.6
(3.2–3.9)
4.3
-
Internarial distance 3.9
(3.5–4.3)
4.8
(4.7–4.9)
4.3*
(4.0–4.5)
4.9*
(4.5–5.2)
3.4
(3.0–3.6)
3.7
(2.0–4.5)
3.6
(3.4–4.0)
4.3
(3.7–4.7)
3.0
(2.9–3.2)
3.7
-
Snout length 7.5
(6.6–8.1)
9.5
(9.0–10.1)
7.4*
(7.0–7.9)
8.7*
(8.4–9.4)
7.0
(6.3–7.7)
7.9
(7.1–9.3)
7.0
(6.3–7.8)
8.1
(6.2–10.1)
6.7
(6.4–7.0)
8.0
-
Table 3.

Principal component Analysis based on 18 standardized morphometric features of 89 specimens belonging to five Ptychadena species from Rwanda. Morphometric parameters accounting strongly for discrimination among species are highlighted in bold.

A: Statistical significance
Principal component Eigen-value Relative percentage Cumulative percentage
1 13.84 76.9 76.9
2 1.46 8.1 85.0
3 0.82 4.6 89.6
B: Standardized coefficients of the principal components
Parameter Principal component 1 Principal component 2 Principal component 3
Snout-vent length 0.256 -0.107 -0.084
tibiofibula length 0.253 0.212 -0.011
foot length 0.255 0.046 -0.278
tarsus + foot length 0.257 0.056 -0.246
total hindlimb length 0.261 0.109 -0.137
thigh length 0.260 0.048 -0.033
forearm + hand length 0.253 -0.164 -0.210
hand length 0.244 -0.231 -0.139
head width 0.243 -0.224 -0.016
head length 0.232 -0.319 0.105
interorbital distance 0.171 0.578 -0.237
upper eyelid width 0.201 -0.142 0.272
horizontal eye diameter 0.211 -0.325 0.162
horizontal tympanum diameter 0.231 -0.112 -0.284
eye to nostril distance 0.228 0.016 0.353
nostril to snout distance 0.195 0.326 0.412
snout length 0.234 0.070 0.469
internarial distance 0.227 0.324 0.072
Table 4A.

Gender-specific discriminant functions based on 17 SVL-adjusted morphometric features (residuals) to distinguish among five Ptychadena species from Rwanda. Statistical significance:

Discriminant function Eigen-value Relative percentage Canonical correlation Wilks Lambda Chi-squared Degrees of freedom Statistical significance
Male 1 19.79 58.76 0.975 0.0003 362.2 68 P < 0.0001
Male 2 8.49 25.23 0.945 0.0079 222.6 48 P < 0.0001
Male 3 3.29 9.77 0.875 0.0750 119.0 30 P < 0.0001
Male 4 2.10 6.24 0.823 0.3223 52.0 14 P < 0.0001
Female 1 45.49 65.38 0.989 0.00005 187.7 68 P < 0.0001
Female 2 14.84 21.33 0.967 0.0023 114.7 48 P < 0.0001
Female 3 6.87 9.89 0.934 0.0377 62.2 30 P < 0.0001
Female 4 2.36 3.40 0.838 0.2973 23.0 14 P = 0.0596
Table 4B.

Gender-specific discriminant functions based on 17 SVL-adjusted morphometric features (residuals) to distinguish among five Ptychadena species from Rwanda. Morphometric parameters accounting strongly to discrimination among species are highlighted in bold. Standardized coefficients of the discriminant functions:

parameter (residuals) discriminant function 1
(males)
discriminant function 2
(males)
discriminant function 3
(males)
discriminant function 4
(males)
discriminant function 1
(females)
discriminant function 2
(females)
discriminant function 3
(females)
discriminant function 4
(females)
tibiofibula length 0.909 -0.221 0.302 0.871 0.824 -0.143 0.196 0.384
foot length 0.268 -0.253 0.292 -1.332 2.079 -3.834 -2.308 -0.942
tarsus + foot length -0.798 2.031 -0.026 1.308 -3.311 4.158 1.119 -0.410
total hindlimb length 0.310 -0.029 -0.147 -0.929 -0.617 0.188 0.361 0.999
thigh length 0.161 -1.001 0.367 -0.108 0.750 0.009 -0.268 0.196
forearm + hand length -0.172 0.142 -1.406 -0.005 0.468 -0.492 0.483 0.105
hand length -0.669 -0.506 0.383 -0.189 -0.879 -0.007 0.088 0.328
head width 0.009 -0.137 -0.370 0.326 -0.778 0.997 0.472 0.534
head length -0.282 -0.341 0.252 -0.389 -0.293 -1.250 -0.563 -0.734
interorbital distance 0.366 0.144 0.285 0.136 1.030 0.561 -0.269 -0.019
upper eyelid width -0.022 0.315 -0.221 0.328 1.579 0.473 0.810 -0.234
horizontal eye diameter -0.296 -0.048 0.420 -0.193 1.013 0.232 0.808 0.089
eye to nostril distance 0.417 -0.532 0.473 -0.287 1.016 -0.555 0.242 -0.166
nostril to snout distance 0.072 0.529 0.225 0.124 1.162 -0.599 0.727 -0.818
snout length -0.291 -0.063 -0.123 0.422 -0.176 0.035 -0.337 0.767
internarial distance 0.666 0.135 -0.861 -0.567 0.594 0.087 -0.026 -0.213
horizontal tympanum diameter -0.052 -0.157 0.707 -0.187 -1.365 0.088 -0.621 0.488
Constant 0.909 -0.222 0.302 0.871 0.824 -0.143 0.196 0.384
Table 4C.

Gender-specific discriminant functions based on 17 SVL-adjusted morphometric features (residuals) to distinguish among five Ptychadena species from Rwanda. Classification success.

predicted species
actual species
Ptychadena anchietae Ptychadena chrysogaster Ptychadena nilotica Ptychadena porosissima Ptychadena uzungwensis
Ptychadena anchietae. male
female
15 (100%)
3 (100%)
0 0 0 0
Ptychadena chrysogaster. male
female
0 13 (100%)
10 (100%)
0 0 0
Ptychadena nilotica. male
female
0 0 13 (100%)
10 (100%)
0 0
Ptychadena porosissima. male
female
0 0 0 11 (100%)
7 (100%)
0
Ptychadena uzungwensis. male
female
0 0 0 0 6 (100%)
1 (100%)
Key to the Rwandan species of Ptychadena
1 external vocal sac apertures and nuptial pads on dorsal side of metacarpals and phalanges of Fingers I–III present adult males...2
external vocal sac apertures and nuptial pads absent adult females and subadults...6
2 vocal sac aperture superior; only one supernumerary metacarpal tubercle proximal to Finger IV, often indistinct; longitudinal, alternately black and yellow coloured bands on postaxial side of femur (spiny tubercles on venter absent; inner metatarsal tubercle less than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I; distal subarticular tubercles of Toes III and V reaching to knee; toe webbing I(1.5–1.75)-(2–2.25)II1.5-(2.75–3)III(1.75–2)-3IV2.75-(1–1.5)V; ventral side of head white, mottled with grey) Ptychadena nilotica
vocal sac aperture inferior or semi-inferior; at least one supernumerary metacarpal tubercle proximal to each finger; colouration on postaxial side of femur different 3
3 spiny tubercles on venter absent; toe webbing reaching distal phalanx on postaxial sides of Toes I, II, and III and on preaxial side of Toe V; external dorsal ridge usually not light and prominent (vocal sac aperture inferior; distal subarticular tubercles of Toes III and V never reaching knee; inner metatarsal tubercle about half the length of metatarsus of Toe I; ventral side of head white, trunk yellow; light tibial line and light dorsal band absent; dark spots on dorsum usually absent, if present, small and narrow; irregularly delimited, reticulated, longitudinal, alternately yellow and dark brown coloured bands on postaxial side of femur) Ptychadena anchietae
spiny tubercles on venter present; toe webbing not reaching distal phalanges on toes; external dorsal ridge light and prominent 4
4 median dorsal ridge extending to level between nostrils on dorsal side of snout; vocal sac aperture semi-inferior; two supernumerary metacarpal tubercles proximal to Finger II; inner and outer palmar tubercle more or less equal in length; inner metatarsal tubercle about half the length of metatarsus of Toe I Ptychadena uzungwensis
median dorsal ridge extending to level between eyelids only; vocal sac aperture inferior; one supernumerary metacarpal tubercle proximal to Finger II; outer palmar tubercle longer than inner; inner metatarsal tubercle either more than or less than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I 5
5 foot large, tips of Toes III and V reaching distinctly beyond knee, their distal subarticular tubercles reaching knee; ventral tubercles tiny, hardly visible with naked eye; inner metatarsal tubercle less than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I; dark brown stripe present on preaxial side of tibia; thenar tubercle approximately as long as outer palmar tubercle; webbing not reaching beyond distal subarticular tubercle on postaxial side of Toe III; dorsal spots small and narrow; irregularly delimited, reticulated, longitudinal dark bands on light background on postaxial side of femur Ptychadena chrysogaster
foot smaller, tips of Toes III and V at most reaching slightly beyond knee, their distal subarticular tubercles not reaching knee; ventral tubercles large, visible with naked eye, palpable with finger; inner metatarsal tubercle more than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I; dark brown stripe absent on preaxial side of tibia; thenar tubercle longer than outer palmar tubercle; webbing reaching beyond distal subarticular tubercle on postaxial side of Toe III; dorsal spots large and wide; yellow spots, diffusely arranged in longitudinal rows on dark brown background on postaxial side of femur Ptychadena porosissima
6 median dorsal ridge extending to level between nostrils on dorsal side of snout; two supernumerary metacarpal tubercles proximal to Finger II (inner metatarsal tubercle about half the length of metatarsus of Toe I; distal subarticular tubercles of Toes III and V not reaching to knee; toe webbing I2-(2.25–2.5)II1.5-3-III(1.75–2)-3IV3-(1+–1.25)V; light tibial line absent; light dorsal band present; dark spots on dorsum large and wide, often fused with neighboring ones; light, prominent dorsolateral fold present) Ptychadena uzungwensis
median dorsal ridge extending to level between eyelids only; one or no supernumerary metacarpal tubercle proximal to Finger II 7
7 toe webbing reaching to distal phalanx on postaxial sides of Toes I, II, and III and on preaxial side of Toe V; light prominent external dorsal ridge usually absent; inner metatarsal tubercle about half the length of metatarsus of Toe I (tips of Toes III and V at most reaching slightly beyond knee, their distal subarticular tubercles not reaching knee; ventral side of head white, trunk yellow; light tibial line and light dorsal band absent; dark spots on dorsum usually absent, if present, small and narrow; irregularly delimited, reticulated, longitudinal, alternately yellow and dark brown coloured bands on postaxial side of femur) Ptychadena anchietae
toe webbing not reaching to distal phalanx on toes; light prominent external dorsal ridge present; inner metatarsal tubercle either less than or more than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I 8
8 inner metatarsal tubercle more than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I; tips of Toes III and V at most reaching slightly beyond knee, their distal subarticular tubercles not reaching knee; thenar tubercle longer than outer palmar tubercle; yellow spots, diffusely arranged in longitudinal rows on dark brown background on postaxial side of femur Ptychadena porosissima
inner metatarsal tubercle less than half the length of metatarsus of Toe I; tips of Toes III and V reaching distinctly beyond knee, their distal subarticular tubercles reaching knee; thenar tubercle about as long as outer palmar tubercle; colouration on postaxial side of femur not consisting of spots 9
9 dorsal spots small and narrow; one supernumerary metacarpal tubercle proximal to each finger; ventral side of head and chest yellow; dark brown stripe present on preaxial side of tibia; irregularly delimited, reticulated, longitudinal dark bands on light background on postaxial side of femur; webbing not reaching beyond subarticular tubercle on Toe I Ptychadena chrysogaster
dorsal spots large and wide; only one supernumerary metacarpal tubercle proximal to Finger IV, often indistinct; ventral side of head and chest white; dark brown stripe on preaxial side of tibia absent, few specimens with dark mottling, not forming continuous stripe; longitudinal, alternately black and yellow coloured bands on postaxial side of femur; webbing reaching beyond subarticular tubercle on Toe I Ptychadena nilotica
Phylogenetic analyses

Comparison of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences corroborated the status of Ptychadena chrysogaster as a distinct species. The partial sequence of this species differed from all available comparative sequences by an uncorrected p distance of at least 4.2 %. The p distance to sequences from Rwandan specimens of Ptychadena anchietae and Ptychadena nilotica was 13.1–13.3 % and 13.6 %, respecitively. The lowest values were observed in comparison with specimens assigned to “Ptychadena aff. uzungwensis” (4.2 %), “Ptychadena porosissima” from South Africa and Rwanda (4.7–4.9 %), “Ptychadena aff. porosissima” from Tanzania (6.0–6.9 %), “Ptychadena mahnerti” (6.2 %), and “P. aff. bibroni” from Gabon (6.9 %). The consensus tree yielded by Maximum-Likelihood analysis indicated that Ptychadena chrysogaster is most closely related to the aforementioned species (Figure 6). The clade consisting of these species is well supported by bootstraping (value 0.90; Hillis and Bull 1993), whereas the relationships within the clade are not resolved (bootstrap values <50 %).

Figure 6.

Maximum likelihood phylogram of species in the genus Ptychadena and Hildebrandtia ornata as outgroup, based on comparison of 548 base pairs of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. Included are specimens from Rwanda and samples taken from GenBank (see Dehling and Sinsch in press for a complete list of sequences and accession numbers). Numbers above nodes are bootstrap support values (only values >0.50 are shown).

Discussion

Among the examined material we identified five distinct species of Ptychadena: Ptychadena anchietae, Ptychadena chrysogaster, Ptychadena nilotica, Ptychadena porosissima, and Ptychadena uzungwensis. The five species are distinguishable from each other unambiguously using quantitative morphometric as well as qualitative morphological characters. The comparison of the partial 16S rRNA sequence of a specimen of Ptychadena chrysogaster with sequences from congeners corroborated its distinct specific status. Sequences from specimens of Ptychadena anchietae, Ptychadena nilotica, and Ptychadena porosissima from Rwanda differ from each other considerably by an uncorrected p distance of more than 10 % (Sinsch et al. 2012, Dehling and Sinsch in press). Unfortunately, no homologous sequence of Ptychadena uzungwensis from Rwanda and only a sequence of a specimen with doubtful identity from Tanzania (Ptychadena aff. uzungwensis, GenBank# DQ525945) were available for comparison.

We did not find any Ptychadena individual collected in Rwanda which was assignable to Ptychadena oxyrhynchus in the collections of the RMCA and the ZFMK. Three specimens from Kisenyi (= Gisenyi, nowadays Rubavu; RMCA 51565–67), Rwanda, had been deposited under the name Ptychadena oxyrhynchus but were re-identified as males of Ptychadena anchietae. Nieden (1913) reported on several specimens of Ptychadena oxyrhynchus (as Rana oxyrhyncha) which Schubotz had collected in what today is northwestern Tanzania, at Kifumbiro and in the Mpororo area, close to the present border with Rwanda. We have not examined Schubotz’ material but if his specimens are indeed Ptychadena oxyrhynchus it is possible that the species can be found in Rwanda as well, given its vast distribution in eastern Africa and the fact that the herpetofauna of the northeastern part of Rwanda has been poorly sampled so far.

There is no specimen of Ptychadena grandisonae among the material Laurent collected in Rwanda. Laurent (1954) described the species based on type specimens from Muita in Angola, from Kanzenze and Kansenia in Katanga (DRC), and from Bitare in “Urundi” [= Burundi]. The latter is a town in central Burundi, about 20 km north of Gitega at 3°15'S, 29°54'E. Several authors, however, have stated that Ptychadena grandisonae occurs in Rwanda (Poynton and Broadley 1985, Channing 2001, Poynton and Channing 2004), and Poynton and Channing (2004) even stated that there is no record from Burundi. This misinformation was very likely caused by Laurent himself in a paper which was cited by all above mentioned authors, an account on the “Reptiles et Amphibiens de l’Angola” (Laurent 1964). Therein, Laurent (1964: 139) cited one of the type localities of Ptychadena grandisonae wrongly as “Bitare (Ruanda)”. On the same page, the locality is correctly given as “Bitare […] (Urundi)” in the account on Ptychadena uzungwensis. Thus, the often cited record of Ptychadena grandisonae from Rwanda in fact refers to specimens from Burundi (RMCA 109036–37; Appendix 1). So far, there is no evidence for the occurrence of Ptychadena grandisonae in Rwanda.

The available evidence indicates that only five species of Ptychadena occur in Rwanda. At present, three of these species (Ptychadena anchietae, Ptychadena nilotica, and Ptychadena porosissima) are widespread and can be found abundantly in both wetlands of the eastern lowland between 1300 and 2000 m elevation which drains into the Nile River and the western lowland on the shore of Lake Kivu which drains into the Congo River. The species inhabit higher elevations of up to 2300 m in deforested, cultivated areas, but are absent from dense forest habitats at similar elevations which at present only remain in the Volcano and Nyungwe National Parks and in the Gishwati Forest. Ptychadena uzungwensis is known from Rwanda from only few specimens, five males from “Kumunini” [= Munini, South Province, 2°42'S, 29°32'E] and a female from “Astrida” [= Butare/Huye, South Province, 2°36'S, 29°44'E], collected in 1952 and 1951, respectively, and has not been found since. Assuming the species is still extant in Rwanda, its distribution is apparently restricted to the south of the country.

There are large series of Ptychadena chrysogaster from various localities in Rwanda in the collection of the RMCA (Appendix 1), collected by Laurent in 1951–1952, indicating that the species was abundant at that time. We repeatedly conducted surveys at several of these localities including the type locality at Lac Karago (1°37'S, 29°30'E) but did not encounter individuals of Ptychadena chrysogaster. Our survey periods (February to April, September to October) were at similar times of the year to those of Laurent (Janurary, February, and October). Species of Ptychadena are among the most conspicuous frogs in areas they inhabit, usually occurring in high numbers and easy to detect. Although the absence of a species from a certain area cannot be proven ultimately, our observations indicate that Ptychadena chrysogaster has disappeared from these areas or at least is much less common than it used to be. The human population in Rwanda has grown from little more than 2 million people in 1950 to approximately 11 million in 2011 (United Nations, Population Division 2011). Nowadays almost every cultivatable area except the three national parks and few small forest patches has been altered to farmland (pers. observation). Gishwati Forest has been reduced to a small patch of a few square kilometres, but until the mid-1990s it had covered a large area in northwestern Rwanda and its extensions reached the shores of Lac Karago. The former presence of forest habitat at the lake is still indicated by the occurrence of two forest-dwelling frog species, Hyperolius castaneus and Leptopelis kivuensis, which call from bushes and groups of small trees at the shore of the river (own unpublished data; see also Sinsch et al. 2011). Judging from its collection sites, Ptychadena chrysogaster appears to occur primarily in wetlands within or at the edge of forest. Instead of Ptychadena chrysogaster, we found Ptychadena nilotica at Lac Karago and Ptychadena nilotica and Ptychadena anchietae in Huye (formerly Astrida and Butare) and in the vicinity of Muzanze (formerly Ruhengeri) during our recent surveys, two species that Laurent had not collected in Rwanda. Both species are known to be able to cope with habitat alteration and are often found in disturbed habitats and in human settlements (Spawls et al. 2006, pers. observation). It is possible that habitat alteration promoted population decline in Ptychadena chrysogaster and its replacement by otherspecies. The distribution of Ptychadena chrysogaster in Rwanda is currently under study. If our preliminary observations are affirmed, the Red List classification of Ptychadena chrysogaster would have to be changed to a “threatened” category and it would call for conservation measures.

Our recent efforts to untangle the diversity of Ptychadena in Rwanda are a first step to clarify the complicated taxonomy of the genus in sub-Saharan Africa. The results of our studies show that species of Ptychadena can be easily distinguished, if standardized diagnostic schemes are applied, which has also been demonstrated by previous studies (e.g. Perret 1979, Bwong et al. 2009). Integrative approaches combining data from morphology, bioacoustics, and molecular genetics will be the best way to address the existing taxonomic problems. Doubtful delimitations of Ptychadena species were often caused by assigning specimens to the wrong species based on non-diagnostic characters. Thereby, states of possible diagnostic characters were mixed up in subsequent accounts on these species, rendering them difficult to distinguish from each other. In the case of Ptychadena chrysogaster, two of its paratypes were in fact Ptychadena porosissima, a severe confusion by Laurent (1954). The latter species, however, was described by Laurent in the same paper as yet another new species, Ptychadena loveridgei. When even the describer cannot reliably distinguish the species, subsequent workers must fail. When reviewing the taxonomic status of certain species, it is mandatory to critically question decisions made by earlier authors by carefully re-evaluating proposed diagnostic characters and re-examining not only the holotypes, but also the material on which accounts discussing the variation within species and keys to species were based.

Acknowledgements

Permission for field studies, handling and exportation of specimens was kindly issued by the Rwanda Development Board - Tourism & Conservation (RDB; officer in charge: A. Mudakikwa). We would like to thank S. Seidel and K. Rembold (Butare Field Station, University of Koblenz) and E. Fischer (Department of Biology, University of Koblenz) for logistic support. E. Fischer also provided a photograph of Ptychadena chrysogaster. B. Dumbo (Bukavu, DRC) helped during field surveys. A. Hochkirch, M. Veith and S. Lötters (Department of Biogeography, University of Trier) permitted the use of their laboratory facilities for the molecular analysis of tissue samples and gave an introduction to the requisite techniques. We would like to thank S. Naber, K. Fischer, and P. Willems (Department of Biogeography, University of Trier) for various help during laboratory work. D. Meirte and G. Cael (MRAC), and D. Rödder and W. Böhme (ZFMK) provided working space and facilitated examination of material under their care. JMD’s visit to the RMCA was funded by the Synthesys Project (http://www.synthesys.info) which is financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP6 “Structuring the European Research Area” programme (BE-TAF-2107). For helpful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript we would like to thank D. C. Blackburn (California Academy of Sciences), S. Lötters, and an anonymous reviewer.

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Appendix 1
Material examined

Ptychadena anchietae: Butare [= Huye], Rwanda (ZFMK 94575–89; twelve males, three females); “Kisenyi (Kivu)” [= Gisenyi/Rubavu, Rwanda] (RMCA 51565–67; three males).

Ptychadena chrysogaster: „Lac Karago, alt. 2250 m, terr. De Kisenyi“, Rwanda (RMCA 109096, one female, holotype; RMCA 109097–109113, sixteen males, paratypes); “Lulenga, Kivu”, DRC (RMCA 3452–69, eleven males, one female, paratypes; 2518–2521, four males, paratypes; 2759–68, one female, nine males, paratypes; 1748–55, seven males, one female, paratypes); “Gatsibu”, Rwanda (RMCA 36844, one male, paratype; 36866, one male, paratype); “Ruhengeri, riv. Moklungwa, alt. 1800–1825 m.), Ruanda” (RMCA 42011–13, three females, paratypes); “Lac Gando, alt. 2400 m, Ruanda” (RMCA 42025–28, four males, paratypes); “Region de Mulera, alt. 1800–2000 m”, Rwanda (RMCA 41987–88, one male, one female, paratypes); “Kasenze (versant S. Karisimbi)”, Rwanda (RMCA 42022–23, two males, paratypes); “entre Managna et Tshengelero, alt. 1750–2000 m”, DRC (RMCA 41965–41970, four males, one female, paratypes); “Kundhuru-Tshuve (col. Gahinga-Sabinyo), alt. 2600 m”, Rwanda (RMCA 41982–83, one male, one female, paratypes; RMCA 41984–86, three males, paratypes); “Ruhengeri, sources Kirii, alt. 1800–1825 m”, Rwanda (RMCA 41991, female, 41992–93, two males, paratypes); “Riv. Rodahira, afflt. de la riv. Fuku, s/afflt. de la riv. Rutshuru, près de Rutshuru, alt. 1250 m”, DRC (RMCA 116959, one male); “Nyabitsindi, entre le Visoke et le Musule, alt. 2400 m”, Rwanda (RMCA 42016–17, one male, one female, paratypes); “Kibga, riv. Suza, versant Sud Visoke, alt. 2400 m”, Rwanda (RMCA 42018, one male, paratype); “Dubi versant S. Visoke, Ruanda” (RMCA 42019–21, one female, two males, paratypes); “Shamuheru, Nyamuragira, alt. 1843 m”, DRC (RMCA 42031–32, one male, one female, paratypes); “Munagana, marais de Maziba, alt 2000 m”, Uganda (RMCA 41979–80, one male, one juvenile, paratypes); “Ilega (versant S. Karisimbi), Rubinda, alt. 2400 m”, Rwanda (RMCA 42024, subadult, paratype); “Kagogo, Lac Bulera, terr. de Ruhengeri, alt. 1870 m (Ruanda)” (RMCA 109121, one female; 109122, one male, paratypes); “Remera, Lac Luhondo, alt. 1770 m, terr. de Ruhengeri (Ruanda)” (RMCA 109114–120, three males, four females, paratypes); “Mutabonika, près de Ngabitsindi entre le Visoke et le Musule, alt. 2400 m” (RMCA 42014, one female; 42015, one male; paratypes); “Bitare, alt. 1650 m, Terr. de Kitega, Urundi” [= Burundi] (RMCA 109161–62, two males, paratypes); “Vyuya, Terr. de Bururi, alt. 1900 m (Urundi)” [=Burundi] (RMCA 109163–66, two males, paratypes); “Astrida, alt. 1750 m. (Ruanda)” [=Butare/Huye, Rwanda] (RMCA 109139–141, two females, one male, paratypes); “Tare, Busanza, région d’Astrida, alt. 1700 m (Ruanda)” (RMCA 109142, one female; 109143–147, four males, one female, paratypes); Mugatemba, Pref. Gikongoro, Rwanda (ZFMK 58747, one female); Nyungwe-Wald, Mukina (Kitabi), Rwanda (ZFMK 58797, one male); Cyamudongo, Rwanda (ZFMK 58847–850); Nyakalengijo, Mt Ruwenzori, Uganda (ZFMK 63239–241).

Ptychadena grandisonae: “Muita-Luembe, E (Angola)” (RMCA 60530, one female, holotype); ““Bitare, alt. 1650 m, Terr. de Kitega, Urundi” [= Burundi] (RMCA 109036–37, one male, one female, paratypes).

Ptychadena guibei: “Muita-Luembe, E (Angola)“ (RMCA 60535, female, holotype).

Ptychadena nilotica: Butare, Rwanda (ZFMK 94590–612, thirteen males, ten females; JMD 807, one male; EL 15-17, 25-26, 37, one male, five females); Mashyuza, Nyakabuye, Rwanda (ZFMK 58839–846); Route Kigali – Byumba, Rwanda (ZFMK 58851–852); Cyangugu, Rwanda (JMD 961, one male); Lac Karago, Rwanda (JMD 1028-1029); Bugarama, Rwanda (JMD 1074, one male); Bururi, Burundi (JMD 1001-1002, two males); Ruzizi National Park, Burundi (JMD 1015-1016, one male, one female). [JMD& EL specs currently being assigned ZFMK nos.]

Ptychadena porosissima: Butare [= Huye], Rwanda (ZFMK 94613–24, eleven males, one female); “Tare, reg. Astrida”, Rwanda (RMCA 109038, one female, holotype of Ptychadena loveridgei Laurent, 1954); “Astrida, alt. 1750 m” [= Huye], Rwanda (RMCA 109085–095, seven males, four females, paratypes of Ptychadena loveridgei); “Tare, Busanza”, Rwanda (RMCA 109039, one female, paratype of Ptychadena loveridgei); “Karambi, Terr. De Nyanza”, Rwanda (RMCA 109051–056, two females, paratypes of Ptychadena loveridgei); “Ruhengeri, riv. Moklungwa, alt. 1800–1825 m., Ruanda” (RMCA 42003–10, eight males, paratypes of Ptychadena loveridgei); “Ruhengeri, sources Kirii, alt. 1800–1825 m”, Rwanda (RMCA 41994, paratype of Ptychadena chrysogaster); “Reg. du Rwankeri, alt. 2200 m, Ruanda” (RMCA 41989, one male, paratype of Ptychadena chrysogaster).

Ptychadena taenioscelis: “Lukulu près Kiambi”, DRC (RMCA 13122, one subadult female, holotype).

Ptychadena uzungwensis: „Dabaga, Utschungwe Mts.“, Tanzania (RMCA 58843, one male, paratype); “Kumunini, Buyenza, alt. 2000 m, terr. d’ Astrida (Ruanda)” [= Munini, Rwanda] (RMCA 108993–97, five males); “Astrida, marais de la Mukura, alt. 1700 m (Ruanda)” [= Huye, Rwanda] (RMCA 108992, one female); “Bitare, alt. 1650 m, Terr. de Kitega, Urundi” (RMCA 108999–109016).

Appendix 2
Morphological features of Ptychadena spp. from Rwanda

The external morphology of each species is described in the following account. Descriptions are primarily based on Rwandan material. In case of Ptychadena chrysogaster we also included data from type specimens from Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The description of Ptychadena uzungwensis is based on all available material from Rwanda and a male paratype from the type locality (see Appendix 1).

Species accounts

Ptychadena anchietae

Body moderately sturdy, widest at temporal region, slightly tapering to groin; head large (HL/SUL 0.36–0.43 in males, 0.37–0.41 in females; HW/SUL 0.31–0.39 in males, 0.33–0.36 in females), longer than wide (HL/HW 1.01–1.26 in males, 1.11–1.13 in females); snout long (SL/HL 0.43–0.53 in males, 0.49–0.53 in females), pointed in dorsal view, rounded in profile, considerably projecting beyond lower jaw, longer than wide (SL/EE 1.08–1.24 in males, 1.30–1.33 in females); canthus rostralis distinct between eye and nostril, straight-lined; loreal region oblique, strongly concave; nostrils rounded, directed dorsolaterally; situated half-way between tip of snout and eye or closer to tip of snout than to eye (EN/NS 0.98–1.33 in males, 1.14–1.27 in females), separated from each other by distance subequal to distance between eye and nostril (NN/EN 0.87–1.05 in males, 0.85–0.96 in females); eyes directed anterolaterally, moderately protruding, relatively small (ED/HL 0.24–0.29 in males, 0.26–0.29 in females), its diameter much shorter than snout (ED/SL 0.50–0.63 in males, 0.53–0.58 in females); interorbital distance more or less equalling upper eyelid width (IO/EW 0.83–1.10 in males, 0.89–1.06 in females) and smaller than internarial distance (IO/NN 0.59–0.83 in males, 0.63–0.67 in females); tympanum and its annulus distinctly visible, separated from eye by about one-fifth to one-third of its diameter (ET/TD 0.21–0.36 in males, 0.19–0.25 in females); tympanum diameter 0.62–0.92 (in males) and 0.74–0.83 (in females) of eye diameter; upper jaw with dentition; choanae small, rounded, located far anterolaterally at margins of roof of mouth; vomer teeth in two short rows, separated from each other by distance about three times length of individual row; tongue long and narrow, bilobed for about one-sixth of its length, free distally for one-fourths its length; median lingual process absent; vocal sac in males paired, lateral; external vocal sac aperture as a longitudinal, posterolaterally orientated slit, inferior, terminating at level of ventral edge of insertion of arms; internal vocal sac apertures rounded, situated close to corner of mouth.

Dorsal surfaces of head, trunk and limbs finely shagreened with many scattered small tubercles; dorsum with five or six longitudinal dermal ridges on each side; median ridge extending from interorbital region almost to vent, postpalpebral and external ridges from level just behind posterior edge of upper eyelid to insertion of leg; laterodorsal ridge extending from level about one snout length posterior to tympanum to groin; dorsal ridges interrupted in few specimens; sacral ridge extending from about one head length anterior to vent either medially to median ridges or between median and postpalpebral ridges to vent, in few specimens absent; external ridge forming anterior part of supratympanic fold; posterior part of supratympanic fold less distinct, branching off from external dorsal ridge posterior to tympanum in wide angle and extending posterolaterally to insertion of arm; infratympanic fold thick and conspicuous, almost straight-lined, extending from ventral edge of eye to level of arm insertion, meeting with supratympanic fold; ventral side of limbs and body smooth except slightly areolate postaxial side of thigh; distinct transverse fold between arms on ventral side; supratympanic fold moderately distinct, angled, extending from posterior corner of eye to point dorsal from arm insertion; infratympanic fold thick and conspicuous, almost straight-lined, extending from ventral edge of eye to level of arm insertion, meeting with supratympanic fold, continued after a small gap in form of large oval tubercle dorsally of posterior end of arm insertion.

Forelimbs moderately sturdy; hand relatively small (HND/SUL 0.23–0.27 in males, 0.25–0.26 in females); tips of fingers rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen volarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each finger; relative length of fingers: I ≤ II < IV < III; subarticular tubercles rounded, well developed, numbering one on Fingers I and II, two on Fingers III and IV, proximal tubercles on Fingers III and IV larger and more prominent than distal ones; finger webbing absent; thenar tubercle distinct, large, flat, oval, slightly more than half as long as metacarpal of Finger I; inner palmar tubercle on proximal half of metacarpal region of Fingers II and III, rounded, flat; outer palmar tubercle on proximal half of metacarpal region of Finger IV, oval, slightly more prominent than inner palmar tubercle; one supernumerary metacarpal tubercle between palmar or thenar tubercles and proximal subarticular tubercles on each finger; callous longitudinal ridges between subarticular tubercles on Fingers III and IV and between subarticular tubercles and finger tips on all fingers; nuptial pads in males covering almost entire dorsal surfaces of Fingers I and II, and proximal portion of dorsal side of Finger III.

Hindlimbs sturdy, very long (LEG/SUL 1.87–2.11 in males, 1.96–2.13 in females); knee reaching slightly beyond insertion of forelimbs and tibio-tarsal articulation reaching almost a head length beyond tip of snout when legs are adpressed forwardly to body; tibiofibula very long (TFL/SUL 0.61–0.68 in males, 0.65–0.72 in females), longer than thigh (TFL/THL 1.09–1.19 in males, 1.13–1.16 in females); heels overlapping each other considerably when knees flexed and thighs held perpendicularly to median plane; two low longitudinal ridges on plantar side of tarsus between heel and metatarsal tubercles; foot shorter than or equal in length to tibiofibula (FOT/TFL 0.85–1.00 in males, 0.91–0.93 in females); relative length of toes: I < II < III < V < IV; toe tips rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen plantarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each toe; subarticular tubercles numbering one on Toes I and II, two on Toes III and V, and three on Toe IV; low callous ridges between subarticular tubercles, and between subarticular tubercles and toe tips; pedal webbing formula I 0.5-2II 0.5-2III(0.5–1)-2IV 2-0.5V; inner metatarsal tubercle moderately large, half as long as metatarsus of Toe I, oval, prominent; outer metatarsal tubercle rounded, flat, faintly visible, callous tissue weakly developed.


Ptychadena chrysogaster Laurent, 1954

Body moderately sturdy, widest at temporal region, slightly tapering to groin; head large (HL/SUL 0.34–0.38 in males, 0.33–0.37 in females; HW/SUL 0.29–0.34 in males, 0.28–0.34 in females), longer than wide (HL/HW 1.04–1.22 in males, 1.05–1.23 in females); snout long (SL/HL 0.45–0.50 in males, 0.45–0.51 in females), pointed in dorsal view, rounded in profile, considerably projecting beyond lower jaw, longer than wide (SL/EE 1.11–1.28 in males, 1.11–1.37 in females); canthus rostralis distinct between eye and nostril, straight-lined; loreal region oblique, strongly concave; nostrils rounded, directed dorsolaterally; situated more or less half-way between tip of snout and eye (EN/NS 0.87–1.14 in males, 0.93–1.24 in females), separated from each other by distance subequal to or larger than distance between eye and nostril (NN/EN 1.02–1.22 in males, 0.94–1.24 in females); eyes directed anterolaterally, moderately protruding, relatively small (ED/HL 0.27–0.32 in males, 0.26–0.30 in females), its diameter much shorter than snout (ED/SL 0.57–0.66 in males, 0.51–0.66 in females); interorbital distance larger than upper eyelid width (IO/EW 1.12–1.48 in males, 1.09–1.44 in females) and smaller than internarial distance (IO/NN 0.75–0.89 in males, 0.78–0.91 in females); tympanum and its annulus distinctly visible, separated from eye by about one-fourth to two-fifths of its diameter (ET/TD 0.24–0.38 in males, 0.26–0.40 in females); tympanum diameter slightly smaller to subequal to eye diameter (TD/ED 0.76–0.98 in males, 0.85–1.01 in females); upper jaw with dentition; choanae small, rounded, located far anterolaterally at margins of roof of mouth; vomer teeth in two short rows, separated from each other by distance about three times length of individual row; tongue long and narrow, bilobed for about one-fifth of its length, free distally for one-fourth its length; median lingual process absent; vocal sac in males paired, lateral; external vocal sac aperture as a longitudinal, posterolaterally orientated slit, inferior, terminating at level of ventral edge of ventral insertion of arms; internal vocal sac apertures rounded, situated close to corner of mouth.

Dorsal surfaces of head, trunk and limbs finely shagreened; dorsum with five or six longitudinal dermal ridges on each side, median one extending from interorbital region almost to vent, postpalpebral and external ones from level just behind posterior edge of upper eyelid to insertion of leg; laterodorsal ridge extending from level about one snout length posterior to tympanum to groin; sacral ridge extending from about one head length anterior to vent either medially to median ridges or between median and postpalpebral ridges to vent; in few specimens additional sacromedial ridge extending between sacral ridge and median ridge to vent for about half length of sacral ridge; external ridge forming anterior part of supratympanic fold; posterior part of supratympanic fold less distinct, branching off from external dorsal ridge posterior to tympanum in wide angle and extending posterolaterally to insertion of arm; infratympanic fold thick and conspicuous, almost straight-lined, extending from ventral edge of eye to level of arm insertion, meeting with supratympanic fold; ventral side of limbs and body smooth except areolate proximal postaxial-ventral part of thigh; distinct transverse fold between arms on ventral side; ventral side of trunk and head densely covered with more or less evenly scattered tiny, pointed tubercles in males.

Forelimbs moderately sturdy; hand relatively small (HND/SUL 0.22–0.26 in males, 0.21–0.25 in females); tips of fingers rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen volarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each finger; relative length of fingers: I = II < IV < III; subarticular tubercles rounded, well developed, numbering one on Fingers I and II, two on Fingers III and IV, proximal tubercles on Fingers III and IV larger and more prominent than distal ones; finger webbing absent; thenar tubercle prominent, elongated, large, two-thirds length of metacarpal of Finger I; inner palmar tubercle on proximal third of metacarpal region of Fingers II and III, oval, flat; outer palmar tubercle on proximal half of metacarpal region of Finger IV, elongated, slightly more prominent than inner palmar tubercle; one supernumerary metacarpal tubercle between palmar or thenar tubercles and proximal subarticular tubercles on all fingers; low callous longitudinal ridges between subarticular tubercles on Fingers III and IV and between subarticular tubercles and finger tips on all fingers; nuptial pads in males covering almost entire dorsal surfaces of Fingers I and II except distal phalanx, and preaxial half of dorsal side of metacarpal of Finger III.

Hindlimbs sturdy, very long (LEG/SUL 1.94–2.27 in males, 1.93–2.14 in females); knee reaching to insertion of forelimbs and tibio-tarsal articulation reaching slightly more than a snout length beyond tip of snout when legs adpressed forwardly to body; tibiofibula very long (TFL/SUL 0.61–0.73 in males, 0.62–0.70 in females), longer than thigh (TFL/THL 1.13–1.22 in males, 1.13–1.25 in females); heels overlapping each other considerably when knees flexed and thighs held perpendicularly to median body plane; two low longitudinalridges on plantar side of tarsus between heel and metatarsal tubercles; foot subequal in length to tibiofibula (FOT/TFL 0.97–1.07 in males, 0.94–1.03 in females); relative length of toes: I < II < III < V < IV; toe tips rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen plantarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each toe; subarticular tubercles numbering one on Toes I and II, two on Toes III and V, and three on Toe IV; low callous ridges between subarticular tubercles, and between subarticular tubercles and toe tips; pedal webbing formula I 2-2.5II(1.5–1.75)-3III(2–2-)(3.25–3+)IV 3-(1.5–2)V; inner metatarsal tubercle elongated, prominent, small, less than half as long as metatarsus of Toe I; outer metatarsal tubercle very faintly visible, rarely prominent, small and pointed.


Ptychadena nilotica

Body moderately sturdy, widest at temporal region, slightly tapering to groin; head large (HL/SUL 0.35–0.43 in males, 0.35–0.39 in females; HW/SUL 0.30–0.37 in males, 0.32–0.35 in females), longer than wide (HL/HW 1.10–1.27 in males, 1.06–1.15 in females); snout long (SL/HL 0.38–0.46 in males, 0.40–0.45 in females), pointed in dorsal view, rounded in profile, considerably projecting beyond lower jaw, longer than wide (SL/EE 1.20–1.40 in males, 1.15–1.36 in females); canthus rostralis distinct between eye and nostril, straight-lined; loreal region oblique, moderately concave; nostrils rounded, directed dorsolaterally; situated half-way between tip of snout and eye or closer to tip of snout than to eye (EN/NS 0.99–1.18 in males, 1.05–1.34 in females), separated from each other by distance slightly less than or subequal to distance between eye and nostril (NN/EN 0.82–0.99 in males, 0.87–0.97 in females); eyes directed anterolaterally, moderately protruding, relatively small (ED/HL 0.25–0.32 in males, 0.26–0.29 in females), its diameter shorter than snout (ED/SL 0.60–0.69 in males, 0.59–0.69 in females); interorbital distance smaller to equalling upper eyelid width (IO/EW 0.64–1.03 in males, 0.72–0.90 in females) and smaller than internarial distance (IO/NN 0.55–0.74 in males, 0.57–0.72 in females); tympanum and its annulus distinctly visible, separated from eye by about one-fourth to one-third of its diameter (ET/TD 0.28–0.36 in males, 0.26–0.37 in females); tympanum diameter 0.75–0.88 (in males) and 0.77–0.89 (in females) of eye diameter; upper jaw with dentition; choanae small, rounded, located far anterolaterally at margins of roof of mouth; vomer teeth in two short rows, separated from each other by distance about three times length of individual row; tongue long and narrow, bilobed for about one-sixth of its length, free distally for one-third its length; median lingual process absent; vocal sac in males paired, lateral; external vocal sac aperture as a longitudinal, posteriorly orientated slit, situated dorsally of level of insertion of arms, parallel to mandibel and infratympanic fold, covered by narrow dermal flap on ventral edge of slit; internal vocal sac apertures rounded, situated close to corner of mouth.

Dorsal surfaces of head, trunk and limbs shagreened; dorsum with four or five longitudinal dermal ridges on each side, median one extending from interorbital region almost to vent, postpalpebral and external ones from level just behind posterior edge of upper eyelid to insertion of leg; laterodorsal ridge extending from level about one snout length posterior to tympanum to groin; in few specimens additional very short ridge present between median and postpalpebral ridge from about one snout length anterior to vent extending almost to vent; external ridge forming anterior part of supratympanic fold; posterior part of supratympanic fold less distinct, branching off from external dorsal ridge posterior to tympanum in wide angle and extending posterolaterally to insertion of arm; infratympanic fold thick and conspicuous, almost straight-lined, extending from ventral edge of eye to level of arm insertion, meeting with supratympanic fold; ventral side of limbs and body smooth except areolate postaxial side of thigh; distinct transverse fold between arms on ventral side.

Forelimbs moderately sturdy; hand relatively small (HND/SUL 0.21–0.27 in males, 0.22–0.26 in females); tips of fingers rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen volarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each finger; relative length of fingers: I ≤ II < IV < III; subarticular tubercles rounded, well developed, numbering one on Fingers I and II, two on Fingers III and IV; proximal tubercles on Fingers III and IV larger and more prominent than distal ones; finger webbing absent; thenar tubercle prominent, elongated and narrow, comparatively small, less than half as long as metacarpal of Finger I; inner palmar tubercle small, flat, less conspicuous, on proximal one-third to one-fourth of metacarpal region of Fingers II and III, rounded, flat; outer palmar tubercle on proximal half of metacarpal region of Finger IV, prominent, elongate and narrow; single supernumerary metacarpal tubercle between outer palmar tubercle and proximal subarticular tubercle of Finger IV, often indistinct; callous longitudinal ridges between subarticular tubercles on Fingers III and IV and between subarticular tubercles and finger tips on all fingers; nuptial pads in males covering almost entire dorsal surfaces of Fingers I and II and preaxial half of dorsal surface of Finger III.

Hindlimbs sturdy, long (LEG/SUL 1.71–1.97 in males, 1.76–1.96 in females); knee reaching just behind insertion of forelimbs and tibio-tarsal articulation reaching tip of snout when legs are adpressed forwardly to body; tibiofibula moderately long (TFL/SUL 0.50–0.60 in males, 0.54–0.60 in females), longer than thigh (TFL/THL 1.04–1.12 in males, 1.09–1.12 in females); heels overlapping each other when knees flexed and thighs held perpendicularly to median plane; two low longitudinalridges on plantar side of tarsus between heel and metatarsal tubercles; foot long, longer than tibiofibula (FOT/TFL 1.07–1.14 in males, 1.03–1.10 in females); relative length of toes: I < II < III < V < IV; toe tips rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen plantarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each toe; subarticular tubercles numbering one on Toes I and II, two on Toes III and V, and three on Toe IV; low callous ridges between subarticular tubercles, and between subarticular tubercles and toe tips; pedal webbing formula I(1.5–1.75)-(2–2.25)II 1.5-(2.75–3)III(1.75–2)-3IV 2.75-(1–1.5)V; inner metatarsal tubercle elongated, prominent, small, less than half as long as metatarsus of Toe I; outer metatarsal tubercle rounded, flat, distinctly present, rarely faintly visible.


Ptychadena porosissima

Body moderately sturdy, widest at temporal region, slightly tapering to groin; head large (HL/SUL 0.35–0.41 in males, 0.35–0.40 in females; HW/SUL 0.31–0.36 in males, 0.30–0.34 in females), longer than wide (HL/HW 1.02–1.19 in males, 1.03–1.21 in females); snout moderately long (SL/HL 0.38–0.49 in males, 0.43–0.51 in females), pointed in dorsal view, rounded in profile, considerably projecting beyond lower jaw, longer than wide (SL/EE 1.21–1.27 in males, 1.11–1.61 in females); canthus rostralis distinct between eye and nostril, straight-lined; loreal region oblique, strongly concave; nostrils rounded, directed dorsolaterally; situated more or less half-way between tip of snout and eye (EN/NS 0.89–1.15 in males, 0.87–1.29 in females), separated from each other by distance subequal to or larger than distance between eye and nostril (NN/EN 0.96–1.15 in males, 0.96–1.11 in females); eye directed anterolaterally, moderately protruding, relatively small (ED/HL 0.24–0.30 in males, 0.25–0.29 in females), its diameter much shorter than snout (ED/SL 0.54–0.67 in males, 0.51–0.63 in females); interorbital distance subequal to upper eyelid width (IO/EW 0.80–1.09 in males, 0.81–1.10 in females) and smaller than internarial distance (IO/NN 0.65–0.74 in males, 0.60–0.82 in females); tympanum and its annulus distinctly visible, separated from eye by about one-fourth to two-fifths of its diameter (ET/TD 0.27–0.39 in males, 0.29–0.39 in females); tympanum diameter smaller than eye diameter (TD/ED 0.68–0.81 in males, 0.70–0.84 in females); upper jaw with dentition; choanae small, rounded, located far anterolaterally at margins of roof of mouth; vomer teeth in two short rows, separated from each other by distance about three times length of individual row; tongue long and narrow, bilobed for about one-fifth of its length, free distally for one-third its length; median lingual process absent; vocal sac in males paired, lateral; external vocal sac aperture as a longitudinal, posterolaterally orientated slit, inferior, terminating at level of ventral edge of insertion of arms; internal vocal sac apertures rounded, situated close to corner of mouth.

Dorsal surfaces of head, trunk and limbs finely shagreened; dorsum with four or five longitudinal dermal ridges on each side; median ridge extending from interorbital region almost to vent, postpalpebral and external ridges from posterior edge of upper eyelid to insertion of leg; laterodorsal ridge extending from level of insertion of arm to groin; sacral ridge extending from about one head length anterior to vent to vent, in some specimens absent; external ridge forming anterior part of supratympanic fold; posterior part of supratympanic fold less distinct, branching off from external dorsal ridge posterior to tympanum in wide angle and extending posterolaterally to insertion of arm; infratympanic fold thick and conspicuous, almost straight-lined, extending from ventral edge of eye to level of arm insertion, meeting with supratympanic fold; ventral side of limbs and body smooth except areolate postaxial side of thigh; distinct transverse fold between arms on ventral side; ventral side of trunk and head densely covered with more or less evenly scattered small, pointed tubercles in males.

Forelimbs moderately sturdy; hand relatively small (HND/SUL 0.22–0.26 in males, 0.22–0.24 in females); tips of fingers rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen volarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each finger; relative length of fingers: I ≤ II < IV < III; subarticular tubercles rounded, well developed, numbering one on Fingers I and II, two on Fingers III and IV, proximal tubercles on Fingers III and IV larger and more prominent than distal ones; finger webbing absent; thenar tubercle distinct, elongated, large, two-thirds length of metacarpal of Finger I; inner palmar tubercle on proximal third of metacarpal region of Fingers II and III, oval, flat; outer palmar tubercle on proximal half of metacarpal region of Finger IV, elongated, slightly more prominent than inner palmar tubercle; one supernumerary metacarpal tubercle between palmar or thenar tubercles and proximal subarticular tubercles on Fingers I, II, and IV, two on Finger III; callous longitudinal ridges between subarticular tubercles on Fingers III and IV and between subarticular tubercles and finger tips on all fingers; nuptial pads in males covering almost entire dorsal surfaces of Fingers I and II and preaxial half of dorsal side of Finger III.

Hindlimbs sturdy, very long (LEG/SUL 1.77–2.05 in males, 1.80–2.06 in females); knee reaching to insertion of forelimbs and tibio-tarsal articulation reaching slightly more than one snout length beyond tip of snout when legs adpressed forwardly to body; tibiofibula long (TFL/SUL 0.56–0.65 in males, 0.56–0.66 in females), longer than thigh (TFL/THL 1.08–1.18 in males, 1.05–1.26 in female); heels overlapping each other considerably when knees flexed and thighs held perpendicularly to median plane; two low longitudinal ridges on plantar side of tarsus between heel and metatarsal tubercles; foot slightly shorter than or equal in length to tibiofibula (FOT/TFL 0.94–1.01 in males, 0.92–1.01 in females); relative length of toes: I < II < III < V < IV; toe tips rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen plantarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each toe; subarticular tubercles numbering one on Toes I and II, two on Toes III and V, and three on Toe IV; low callous ridges between subarticular tubercles, and between subarticular tubercles and toe tips; pedal webbing formula I(1.75–2)-2.25II 1.5-3III 1.75-(3–3.25)IV 3-(1–1.5)V; inner metatarsal tubercle very prominent, shovel-like, large, more than half as long as metatarsus of Toe I; outer metatarsal tubercle faintly visible, rarely prominent and pointed.


Ptychadena uzungwensis

Body moderately sturdy, widest at temporal region, slightly tapering to groin; head large (HL/SUL 0.36–0.39 in males, 0.37 in females; HW/SUL 0.32–0.35 in males, 0.32 in female), longer than wide (HL/HW 1.06–1.23 in males, 1.16 in female); snout long (SL/HL 0.50–0.52 in males, 0.50 in female), pointed in dorsal view, rounded in profile, considerably projecting beyond lower jaw, much longer than wide (SL/EE 1.30–1.53 in males, 1.56 in female); canthus rostralis distinct between eye and nostril, straight-lined; loreal region oblique, strongly concave; nostrils rounded, directed dorsolaterally; situated more or less half-way between tip of snout and eye (EN/NS 0.91–1.03 in males, 0.97 in female), separated from each other by distance subequal to or shorter than distance between eye and nostril (NN/EN 0.82–0.94 in males, 0.89 in female); eyes directed anterolaterally, moderately protruding, relatively small (ED/HL 0.27–0.32 in males, 0.28 in female), its diameter much shorter than snout (ED/SL 0.55–0.63 in males, 0.56 in female); interorbital distance subequal to or larger than upper eyelid width (IO/EW 0.97–1.24 in males, 1.19 in female) and smaller or subequal to internarial distance (IO/NN 0.80–1.06 in males, 0.78 in female); tympanum and its annulus distinctly visible, separated from eye by about two-fifths to half of its diameter (ET/TD 0.36–0.47 in males, 0.41 in female); tympanum diameter smaller than eye diameter (TD/ED 0.70–0.83 in males, 0.77 in female); upper jaw with dentition; choanae small, rounded, located far anterolaterally at margins of roof of mouth; vomer teeth in two short rows, separated from each other by distance about two and half times length of individual row; tongue long and narrow, bilobed for about one-third of its length, free distally for one-third its length; median lingual process absent; vocal sac in males paired, lateral; external vocal sac aperture as a longitudinal, posterolaterally orientated slit, semi-inferior, terminating at level of centre of insertion of arms; internal vocal sac apertures rounded, situated close to corner of mouth.

Dorsal surfaces of head, trunk and limbs finely shagreened; dorsum with four longitudinal dermal ridges on each side; median ridge extending from dorsal side of snout between nostrils almost to vent; postpalpebral ridge extending from posterior portion of upper eyelid, external ridge from level of tympanum to insertion of leg; laterodorsal ridge extending from level of tympanum to groin; external ridge forming anterior part of supratympanic fold; posterior part of supratympanic fold less distinct, branching off from external dorsal ridge posterior to tympanum in wide angle and extending posterolaterally to insertion of arm; infratympanic fold thick and conspicuous, almost straight-lined, extending from ventral edge of eye to level of arm insertion, meeting with supratympanic fold; ventral side of limbs and body smooth except areolate postaxial side of thigh; distinct transverse fold between arms on ventral side; ventral side of trunk and head densely covered with more or less evenly scattered small, pointed, very small tubercles in males.

Forelimbs moderately sturdy; hand relatively small (HND/SUL 0.22–0.24 in males, 0.21 in female); tips of fingers rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen volarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each finger; relative length of fingers: II = IV ≤ I < III; subarticular tubercles rounded, well developed, numbering one on Fingers I and II, two on Fingers III and IV, proximal tubercles on Fingers III and IV larger and more prominent than distal ones; finger webbing absent; thenar tubercle distinct, elongated, large, half as long as metacarpal of Finger I; inner palmar tubercle on proximal third of metacarpal of Finger III, small, roundish, flat; outer palmar tubercle on proximal third of metacarpal of Finger IV, elongated, more prominent than inner palmar tubercle; one supernumerary metacarpal on Fingers I and IV, two on Finger II, and two to four on Finger III between palmar or thenar tubercles and proximal subarticular tubercles; callous longitudinal ridges between subarticular tubercles on Fingers III and IV and between subarticular tubercles and finger tips on all fingers; nuptial pads in males covering almost entire dorsal surfaces of metacarpal and proximal phalanx of Fingers I and II and preaxial halves of dorsal sides of metacarpal and [in Rwandan specimens but not in paratype and specimens from Kivu and Burundi] proximal portion of proximal phalanx of Finger III.

Hindlimbs sturdy, very long (LEG/SUL 1.84–2.04 in males, 1.87 in female); knee reaching to insertion of forelimbs and tibio-tarsal articulation reaching slightly more than one snout length beyond tip of snout when legs adpressed forwardly to body; tibiofibula long (TFL/SUL 0.59–0.66 in males, 0.62 in female), longer than thigh (TFL/THL 1.12–1.20 in males, 1.16 in female); heels overlapping each other considerably when knees flexed and thighs held perpendicularly to median body plane; two low longitudinal ridges on plantar side of tarsus between heel and metatarsal tubercles, postaxial one less distinct than preaxial one; foot shorter than or subequal in length to tibiofibula (FOT/TFL 0.94–1.03 in males, 1.07 in female); relative length of toes: I < II < III < V < IV; toe tips rounded, not enlarged into disks but slightly swollen plantarly; transverse dorsal skin ridge separating ultimate from other phalanges on each toe; subarticular tubercles numbering one on Toes I and II, two on Toes III and V, and three on Toe IV; low callous ridges between subarticular tubercles, and between subarticular tubercles and toe tips; pedal webbing formula I 2-(2.25–2.5)II 1.5-3-III(1.75–2-)-3IV 3-(1+–1.25)V; inner metatarsal tubercle prominent, elongated, large, half as long as metatarsus of Toe I; outer metatarsal tubercle faintly visible.