Abstract
We report the results of an amphibian survey in the Tanoé-Ehy Swamp Forests, south-eastern Ivory Coast. During 26 days we recorded at least 33 frog species. These include a new record for the recently described Morerella cyanophthalma, which seems to be endemic to the south-eastern Ivorian forests. Some individuals of the genus Phrynobatrachus may represent the so far unknown males of P. intermedius, described from neighboring Ghana and only known from the type locality, or a species new to science. Based on the IUCN Red List more than one quarter of the recorded species are threatened. The study sites comprise an amphibian fauna mainly consisting of forest specialists that are endemic to the Upper Guinea forest zone. Although some regional endemics were lacking from our records, the Tanoé-Ehy Swamp Forests have great value for amphibian conservation in Ivory Coast. However, the presence of some invasive species is a clear hint to past and present forest alteration. We urge for the protection of these forests as they represent an important refuge for the forest fauna in the south-eastern Ivory Coast, a region where only few forests persisted until today.
Highlights
Most West African countries have lost the majority of their natural forests
We report the results of an amphibian survey in the Tanoé-Ehy Swamp Forests, south-eastern Ivory Coast
The study sites comprise an amphibian fauna mainly consisting of forest specialists that are endemic to the Upper Guinea forest zone
Summary
Most West African countries have lost the majority of their natural forests. Ivory Coast has been experiencing a great loss of rainforest cover in the west (e.g. Chatelain et al 1996), and this has been worsening during the political crisis in the first decade of the 21st century (Bible 2013, Hansen et al 2013). The rainforests in south-eastern Ivory Coast are among the most highly threatened African forests (Norris et al.2010, Mayaux et al 2013) In particular they face logging, shifting agriculture and poaching (Lauginie 2007). To reinforce its conservation policy, the Ivorian state is encouraging compensatory measures, i.e. the creation of volunteer nature reserves (VNR), in addition to protected areas. One of these VNRs is the Tanoé-Ehy Swamp Forests, which has been designated as a “Very High” priority area for primates. To further enhance protection it has been recommended to collect
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