A conservation assessment of amphibians in the Forêt Classée du Pic de Fon, Simandou Range, southeastern Republic of Guinea, with the description of a newAmniranaspecies (Amphibia Anura Ranidae)

Abstract

We report on a species-rich amphibian community from the Forêt Classée du Pic de Fon, southeastern Guinea. The high diversity of habitat types, ranging from Guinea savannah and Upper Guinean rainforest to montane grassland and forest is reflected by the anuran community composition. We recorded at least 33 species from the two sites investigated and estimate that 50–60 species occur within the mountain range. We discuss lesser known and taxonomically problematic species, and summarize data of the whole amphibian community. Several species might be new to science, including one, Amnirana fonensis n. sp., described in the present paper. This new species is distinct from all other West African congeners on the basis of its very rough skin. Nearly 60% of the species recorded from the Forêt Classée du Pic de Fon are endemic to the Upper Guinean rainforest zone and about half of the recorded species are endemic to the western part of this zone. This qualifies the Simandou Range as a very important biodiversity hotspot facing a number of threats, including the possibility of future open cast mining along the mountain ridge. We briefly discuss possible effects of threats on the amphibian community in particular and on the regional ecosystem in general.