1. A new bullfrog from southern Africa (Pyxicephalidae, Pyxicephalus Tschudi, 1838).
- Author
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du Preez, Louis H, Netherlands, Edward C, Rödel, Mark-Oliver, and Channing, Alan
- Subjects
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BULLFROG , *MIDDLE ear , *DNA sequencing - 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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