Xenopus boumbaensis

Xenopus boumbaensis, the Mawa clawed frog, is a species of frog in the family Pipidae.[3][4][5] It is known from a few localities in central and south-eastern Cameroon, and from north-western Republic of Congo and extreme south-western Central African Republic; it probably occurs more widely in the central African forest belt, but identification is difficult:[1] it is one of the cryptic species that resemble Xenopus fraseri, from which it can be distinguished by chromosome number (2n=72) and a male advertisement call of a single note.[1][3]

Xenopus boumbaensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Pipidae
Genus: Xenopus
Species:
X. boumbaensis
Binomial name
Xenopus boumbaensis
Loumont, 1983[2]

Etymology

The specific name boumbaensis refers to the type locality (Mawa) that is within the Boumba River drainage.[2][3]

Description

Adult males can grow to 37 mm (1.5 in) and females to 53 mm (2.1 in) in snout–vent length.[6] All Xenopus are characterized by a streamlined and flattened body, a vocal organ specialized for underwater sound production, lateral-line organs, claws on the innermost three toes, and fully webbed toes.[6] The coloration is green with numerous spots posteriorly and on the hind limbs. The venter can be immaculate white but is often heavily spotted.[2]

Xenopus boumbaensis is an octoploid species (2n=72).[2][6]

Habitat and conservation

This species occurs in aquatic habitats in the lowland rainforest region at elevations of 337–550 m (1,106–1,804 ft) above sea level. It is typically found in forested habitats in slow-flowing forest streams and springs, but may also be found in swamps. Reproduction presumably involves free-living larvae. It is threatened by deforestation and habitat degradation as well as water pollution. It is known from a number of protected areas: Boumba Bek, Nki, and Lobeke National Parks in Cameroon, Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve in the Central African Republic, and the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Xenopus boumbaensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T58171A3066760. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T58171A3066760.en.
  2. Loumont, C. (1983). "Deux especes nouvelles de Xenopus du Cameroun (Amphibia, Pipidae)". Revue Suisse de Zoologie (in French). 90: 169–177. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.81970.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Xenopus boumbaensis Loumont, 1983". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  4. "Xenopus boumbaensis Loumont, 1983". African Amphibians. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  5. "Xenopus boumbaensis". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  6. Evans, Ben J.; Carter, Timothy F.; Greenbaum, Eli; Gvoždík, Václav; Kelley, Darcy B.; McLaughlin, Patrick J.; Pauwels, Olivier S. G.; Portik, Daniel M. & Stanley, Edward L. (2015). "Genetics, morphology, advertisement calls, and historical records distinguish six new polyploid species of African clawed frog (Xenopus, Pipidae) from West and Central Africa". PLoS ONE. 10 (12): e0142823. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142823. PMC 4682732. PMID 26672747.
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