Title:

A new bullfrog from southern Africa (Pyxicephalidae, Pyxicephalus Tschudi, 1838)

Publication Year:
2024
Abstract:

Four species of African bullfrogs are currently recognised. We describe a new species from southern Africa, which can be distinguished on the basis of morphology, advertisement call and DNA sequences. Morphologically it differs from other bullfrogs by a combination of characteristics including a tympanum that is smaller or equal in size to the eye, and smaller in diameter than the space between eye and tympanum, presence of a white dot on the tympanum, longitudinal skin ridges with speckling between dorsal mottles, pale vertebral line usually present, absence of cream coloured lateral stripes, absence of a pale interorbital-bar, upper jaw-barring absent or faint. It has been confirmed from north-eastern Namibia, southern Angola and north-western Botswana. Three further undescribed species are recognised but not formally named, pending further investigation. We confirm the genetic distinctiveness of P. angusticeps. Keywords: 16S rRNA, tyrosinase exon 1, advertisement calls, Khaudum National Park, new
species, Pyxicephalus beytelli sp. nov, taxonomy.

Publication Title:
African Journal of Herpetology
Volume:
73
Issue:
1
Pages:
61-89
Item Type:
Journal Article
Language:
en
Files:
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