The status of the genus leptopelis (Amphibia anura hyperoliidae) in ethiopia, including descriptions of two new species

Abstract

The present work recognises six species of the genus Leptopelis in Ethiopia, of which two, L. yaldeni n. sp. and L. susanae n. sp., are described for the first time. Pseudocassina ocellata Ahl, 1924 and P. rugosa Ahl, 1924 are synonyms of Leptopelis gramineus (Boulenger, 1898). Five of the six species are known only from Ethiopia; an unusually high proportion of endemics which is explained by the fact that four (L. gramineus, L. ragazzii, L. yaldeni and L. susanae) are montane forms having their lower limits of distribution at about 2000 m or above, and there is a marked tendency for different species to be associated with different massifs. The remaining endemic is L. vannutellii, a species of lowland forest in southwestern Ethiopia. Leptopelis bocagei (Giinther, 1864) appears to be a more widely distributed form, although the application of this name to Ethiopian specimens is provisional since their relationship with typical bocagei from further south remains to be clarified. Even within Ethiopia, the name seems to include two different taxa and the recognition of a distinct subspecies in the southwestern region of the country may eventually be justified. With the exception of L. ragazzii (Boulenger, 1896) and L. vannutellii (Boulenger, 1898), which differ most markedly in habitat and behaviour, all Ethiopian species are believed to be identifiable on structural characters alone, but colour, voice and habitat are also diagnostic in many cases (Table 1). © 1977 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.