Odontobatrachus natator is actually five distinct species of frog.
One species of torrent frog discovered in West Africa of the genus Odontobatrachus, and previously thought the only species in the genus, is actually five distinct frogs, according to new research published in the journal Pensoft Zoosystematics and Evolution.
Scientists conducted research of 150 adult frogs at the molecular level and combined that with biogeographic separation analysis to conclude the frog is actually five operational taxonomic units, or separate species, which resulted in a species-complex.
In addition to the already known Odontobatrachus natator, the new species include Odontobatrachus arndti, O. fouta, O. smithi, O. ziama. The frogs occur in western Upper Guinea and Sierra Leone, residing in the forest zone. These frogs are considered to be medium to large size frogs.
Michael F. Barej
Odontobatrachus natator female, left, and male.
Odontobatrachus natator’s coloration differs slightly based on its locality. Females can be a light green and brown with a tinge of light yellow while males can be a more mottled greenish brown. IN other locality’s the map;e can be a dark greenish brown in coloration.
MICHAEL F. BAREJ
Odontobatrachus ziama.
Odontobatrachus ziama is a mottled brown with a whitish belly and what appears to be lateral ridges on the side.
MICHAEL F. BAREJ
Odontobatrachus smithi male, left, and female.
Odontobatrachus smithi can appear camouflage green with knight and dark green colors in the mix as well as dark brown and greenish coloration. It also features distinct dorsal ridges averaging five to six ridges per body.
Odontobatrachus fouta appears dark brownish to greenish with dark blotches on its side. It also sports a reticulated pattern on its belly. The female is browner than the male, while the male appears more green with a hint of yellow splotches.
MICHAEL F. BAREJ
Odontobatrachus fouta female, left, and male.
Odontobatrachus arndti can appear light greenish yellow with brown spots to to a mottled green and brown to beige coloration with brown spots. Its belly tends to be white to yellow.
MICHAEL F. BAREJ
Odontobatrachus arndti.
The scientists who worked to describe these new species: Michael F. Barej, Andreas Schmitz, Johannes Penner, Joseph Doumbia, Laura Sandberger-Loua, Mareike Hirschfeld, Christian Brede, Mike Emmrich, N’Goran Germain Kouamé, Annika Hillers, Nono Legrand Gonwouo, Joachim Nopper, Patrick Joel Adeba, Mohamed Alhassane Bangoura, Ceri Gage, Gail Anderson, Mark-Oliver Rödel
The full paper on these new species can be found on the Pensoft Journal website.
