The identity ofHylambates hyloides Boulenger, 1906 and description of a new small species ofLeptopelis from West Africa

Abstract

The validity of the name Hylambates hyloides is being examined. This name was commonly used for a small West African forest Leptopelis since the 1960s. In this paper it is shown that Leptopelis hyloides is a synonym of L. viridis, a widespread West African savanna frog. Consequently this forest taxon is being described as a new Leptopelis species. It ranges throughout the whole Upper Guinean forest zone from the Niger Delta to western Guinea. It inhabits primary and partly degraded evergreen and semi-deciduous forests. It is compared to all valid West African Leptopelis species, as well as to all other available names. The new species is characterized by the combination of a compact body shape with a head wider than the body in males, small size, large distinctively coloured protruding eyes, large tympanum, almost smooth skin, comparatively long legs, a white line on the distal parts of arms and feet, webbing between the 2–4 fingers, well developed webbing on the feet, and a buzzing advertisement call. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)