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African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians

of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN, WOLFGANG BÖHME, PATRICIA A. HERRMANN,

MIRCO PLATH, ANDREAS SCHMITZ & MARKUS SOLBACH

Abstract. The amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, a mountain at the southeastern edge of the Cameroon mountain

range (“Dorsale camerounaise”), were inventoried continually over a six year period from 1998 to 2004.

This area encompasses 150 km2 of lowland, submontane and montane rainforest with an elevation up to

1,825 m. This inventory proved Mt. Nlonako, with 93 amphibian species, to be the most species rich single-

locality area in amphibian and especially anuran fauna in Africa. Accounts of all species are provided based

on collected material and literature reviewed. Analysis showed the species composition to be most similar

within Cameroon to that of Korup National Park. In an African context the amphibian fauna of Mt. Nlonako

is most related to the Central African fauna as opposed to the West African fauna. The high species richness

and endemicity is discussed from a paleoclimatic perspective. Conservation status and threats to the

amphibian fauna are noted.

Keywords. Amphibians: Gymnophiona, Anura; Mt. Nlonako; Cameroon; species richness; endemicity;

biogeography; conservation.

Introduction

Despite recent efforts in surveying the am-

phibian fauna of the rain forests of tropical

Africa (LARGEN & DOWSETT-LEMAIRE 1991,

LAWSON 1993, BÖHME 1994a,b, SCHMITZ 1998,

EUSKIRCHEN et al. 1999, SCHMITZ et al. 1999,

LÖTTERS et al. 2001, RÖDEL & BRANCH 2002,

RÖDEL 2003, RÖDEL & AGYEI 2003, RÖDEL &

ERNST 2003) the knowledge on African rain-

forest amphibian faunas falls far behind that

of its equivalents in tropical Middle and

South America and in tropical Asia (DUELL-

MAN 1999). Within the rainforest zones of

Africa however, Cameroon has the best stud-

ied amphibian faunas (PARKER 1936, SANDER-

SON 1936, PERRET 1959a, 1966, AMIET & PERRET

1969, AMIET 1971a, 1972b, 1973a, 1975,

1978a, 1978b, 1983b, 1989, LEBRETON

1999). LAWSON (1993) lists 88 species of am-

phibians for the Korup National Park (Korup

NP), this represents by far the highest single-

locality amphibian species richness in Africa

(RÖDEL & AGYEI 2003). AMIET (1975) records

100 anuran species from the 10,000 km2

region around Nkongsamba including Mt.

Kupe, the Bakossi Mtns., the Manengouba

Mtns., Mt. Ekomane, Mt. Nlonako and parts

of the Bamileke Plateau.

In Cameroon, the western and southwest-

ern Cameroonian highlands, also known as

“Dorsale camerounaise”, extend from Mt.

Cameroon in the south to Tchabal Mbabo in

the north. They are characterized by a high

amphibian species richness and an extraordi-

nary high proportion of endemic species; a

veritable hotspot of African amphibian di-

versity (DUELLMAN 1999, POYNTON 1999, un-

publ. data).

Contrary to the high biodiversity value

of such areas, especially those in West and

Central Africa, most have no formal conser-

vation status protection (STUART et al. 1990)

and are endangered by habitat destruction,

mainly by logging activities and human en-

croachment. Due to such changes in closed

forest environments the number of species

which exploit such disturbed patches is in-

Rheinbach, 20 May 2005

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© 2005 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde e.V. (DGHT)

62

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN et al.

creasing (SCHIØTZ 1967, LAWSON 1993), this

leads towards a “savanisation” of forest habi-

tats as already observed in Madagascar

(BLOMMERS-SCHLÖSSER & BLANC 1993).

Amphibian species have a high potential

as indicator species (RÖDEL 2000). Their bi-

phasic lifestyle, together with their high sen-

sitivity towards environmental changes (glo-

bal amphibian population declines, see

BLAUSTEIN et al. 1994, ALFORD & RICHARDS

1999, HOULAHAN et al. 2000) makes them

predestined tools in the assessment of habitat

quality. However, this necessitates an in-

depth knowledge of their natural history.

Amphibian inventories in African tropical

rainforest habitats are a first step. Quantita-

tive ecological studies have only recently

begun (PLATH 2003, SOLBACH 2003, PLATH et al.

2004). Ultimately, in-depth species studies

would complete the picture. This paper

presents a comprehensive amphibian species

list for Mt. Nlonako, which was derived over

a period of six years, in which we present the

largest number of amphibian species – 93 –

for any single-locality on the African conti-

nent.

Methods

Study sites

We surveyed the Mt. Nlonako area (Fig. 1)

which extends roughly from 4°49’-4°56’N

and from 9°56’-10°01’E and encompasses

approximately 15,000 ha. The western and

northern flanks face the town of Nkongsam-

ba, and the busy road between Douala and

Bamenda. The slopes on this side are heavily

cultivated with the forest destroyed up to an

elevation of approximately 1,100 m. To the

South and East however, the forest slopes are

much less influenced by human activities. A

vast lowland rainforest, encompassing sev-

eral thousand km2, extends from the foothills

of Mt. Nlonako reaching past Nkondjock in

the East and past Yabassi in the South. This

area is divided by some unpaved roads and

settlements. Logging is or has been carried

out in many places within this area. Al-

though hunting pressure is imminent, forest

elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, drills and

other large mammals persist. Mt. Nlonako

itself rises from approximately 400 m eleva-

tion on the southern side to 1,825 m on its

peak. The highest and central part of the

mountain forms a cuvette, approximately 1.5

km in diameter, with much grass/bracken in

its center and with forested rims at 1,600 m

on the north, east and south sides and the

peak on the western side (DOWSETT-LEMAIRE &

DOWSETT 1999).

The forest above 1,100 m is pristine with

a tall canopy (25-30 m). The forest here

seems to be drier and warmer than forests on

the close-by Manengouba and Bakossi

mountains or Mt. Kupe at comparable alti-

tudes. Botanically, Guttiferae (Allanblackia

sp.) and Burseraceae (Santiria trimera) are

especially common. Caelaspiniaceae (incl.

Tessmannia anomala), Ebenaceae (Diospy-

ros), Meliaceae, Mimosaceae (Albizia), Mo-

raceae, Olacaceae (Strombosia), Sapotaceae

(incl. Chrysophyllum albidum), Steruliaceae

(Cola) and Apocynaceae (Tabernaemontana

sp.) are recorded (DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOWSETT

1999). Above 1,450 m some rare montane

species such as Polyscias fulva can be found

locally. Many small to medium-sized creeks,

often fast flowing and rocky, are in the forest.

Swamps and pools are rare.

The climate is warm and humid. Over a

period of 34 years Nkongsamba (882 m ele-

vation) received an average of 2,762 mm

rainfall per year (Table 1, AMIET 1975). Dur-

ing that period the peak dry season extended

from December to February with less than 50

mm precipitation per month. The peak rainy

season extended from July to September with

up to 482 mm precipitation per month. We

recorded temperatures and relative humidity

on Mt. Nlonako with Hobo® 08 t/rh data

loggers over a period of three years at several

elevations (Table 2, Fig. 2). Measurements

were taken at one hour intervals. Figure 2

shows the climatic conditions at an altitude

of 1,140 m (Nguéngué campsite).

Fieldwork initiated in November 1998

and continual sampling extended to June

2004. Sampling occurred in all seasons.

63

African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

Our survey efforts concentrated on the

northern, eastern and southern slopes of Mt.

Nlonako with the following localities being

the main points of collecting:

0 km

100

200

300

400 km

Cameroon

Mt. Nlonako

= study site

Atlantic

Ocean

a

Fig. 1. Survey locations (a) in Cameroon and (b) at

Mt. Nlonako. Shaded areas are rural communities.

Nkebe waterfall

Nguéngué

N

600 m

1000 m

1825 m

Nkongsamba

Ekomtolo

Badjong

0 km

5 km

Eyimba

Mekoum

Ekambeng

b

Ekambeng (EKA): village at the foot of the

northern slopes in the vicinity of Nkong-

samba, many coffee plantations, no pri-

mary forest

Mekoum (MEK): village on northern side of

the mountain, many coffee plantations,

no primary forest

Nguéngué (NGU): village on the rim be-

tween northwest-facing and southeast-fa-

cing slopes, N 4°55’02’’, E 9°59’21’’,

1,140 m elevation, some coffee planta-

tions, secondary and predominately pri-

mary forest

Summit (SUM): eastern side of the cuvette, N

4°54’47’’, E 9°57’93’’, 1,660 m eleva-

tion, rock outcrops, primary montane for-

est, some areas with grass and bushes

Eyimba (EYI): very small village on the

eastern side of the mountain, N 4°52’92’’,

E 9°59’19’’, 710 m elevation, small cul-

tivated areas, much primary forest

Nkebe waterfall (NWF): between the villages

Ekomtolo and Badjong, N 4° 49’83’’, E

9°55’49’’, 470 m elevation, coffee, oil

palm and food crop plantations, predomi-

nately secondary forest, area with previ-

ous and current logging.

Sampling methods

We used Y-shaped drift fence/pitfall trap

arrays (CORN 1994) with segments of 5 m

length during the initial phase of the project

at several localities. Catching success was

very low to nil. This method was abandoned

after some weeks.

We applied quadrat sampling with 8 × 8

m quadrats (JAEGER & INGER 1994) at several

localities at various elevations. Quadrats

worked satisfactorily to gain quantitative

data but are work intensive. For the quanti-

tative results see HERRMANN et al. 2000.

Transects of several hundred meters in

length were surveyed along a creek between

Ekomtolo and Badjong for several months

during the dry and the rainy season. For

details see PLATH 2003, SOLBACH 2003, and

PLATH et al. 2004.

64

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN et al.

Visual encounter surveys along transects

(CRUMP & SCOTT 1994) or opportunistic sear-

ches during the day and at night were the

dominant methods used. The number of per-

sons surveying varied, but was usually two or

three; this method yielded the best success

and was carried out throughout the study

periods.

Acoustic monitoring was also applied

but only species represented by at least one

voucher specimen are included in the species

list.

Our data was complemented by donated

specimens which were encountered by vil-

lagers during their daily movements.

Voucher specimens are housed in the

herpetological collection of the Zoologi-

sches Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK),

Bonn, of the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de

Genève (MHNG) or in the collection of the

senior author (HWH) in Cameroon. The latter

collection will be transferred to the National

Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian In-

stitution, Washington, D.C. (USNM). All

specimens were either fixed in 10 % buffered

formalin or 75 % ethanol and subsequently

preserved in 75 % ethanol. Some freshly

metamorphosed specimens and tadpoles

proved to be difficult to determine; such

specimens are excluded from the following

species account.

Fig. 2. Temperature and relative humidity at the Nguéngué survey site (1,140 m elevation) from December

2000 to November 2003.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

relativ

e h

u

midity %

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

temperatu

re C

J

A

J

O

J

A

J

O

J

A

J

O

2001

2003

2002

65

African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

Biogeographic analysis

To compare the species composition of Mt.

Nlonako with other areas in West and Central

Africa we calculated the “coefficient of bio-

geographic resemblance” (CBR) after DUELL-

MAN (1990) with the formula

CBR = 2C / (N1+N2)

in which C is the number of shared taxa

(here species) in two compared areas, N1 is the

number of taxa (here species) in area 1 and N2

is the number of taxa (here species) in area 2.

A CBR value of 0 would mean that Mt.

Nlonako shares no amphibian species with

the compared area, a CBR value of 1 would

mean that the species inventories in both

areas are identical. JANSEN and KÖHLER (2002)

excluded ubiquitous species from their ana-

lysis arguing that those species are not pri-

mary inhabitants of the mountain forest habi-

tats they compared and thus do not bear any

information on the biogeographic relation-

ships of those areas. We do not follow this

approach for (1) we do not know if ubiqui-

tous species are or are not primary inhabit-

ants of the areas in question, (2) possible

“noise” by such species should be similar

over the areas analyzed and (3) they are low

in number and thus have a limited effect on

the analysis.

Results

Species account

In the following we present a systematic list

of amphibian species encountered during

our survey. We list localities and voucher

specimens for each taxon. Nomenclature fol-

lows FROST (2002), unless otherwise noted.

For habitat we differentiate between forest

(F) and farmbush (FB). We apply SCHIØTZ’s

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D annually

precipitation 16

43

151 199

226

261

431

482

476

345

103

19 2,762

temperature 22.9 23.5 23.6 23.5 23.1 22.0 20.9 20.8 21.9 22.2 22.0 23.4 22.5

Tab. 1. Mean monthly precipitation (mm) over a period of 34 years and mean temperature (°C) in

Nkongsamba (882 m elevation) (AMIET 1975 with precipitation after SUCHEL 1972).

(1967) definition for farmbush species as

species which live within the former forest

zone but are not dependent upon closed

canopy forest and are not able to reproduce

successfully in savanna habitats.

Gymnophiona

Caeciliidae

Geotrypetes seraphini (DUMÉRIL, 1859)

Localities: EKA, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69121, 77675, 78025, 78809-13,

HWH 1039. Habitat: FB.

Herpele squalostoma (STUTCHBURY, 1836)

Localities: EKA, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 77676, 78024. Habitat: F.

Anura

Pipidae

Hymenochirus boettgeri boettgeri (TORNIER,

1897)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimen: ZFMK

81133. Habitat: F.

Remarks: This species was suspected to oc-

cur in Western Cameroon (PERRET 1966, LAW-

SON 1993); our finding confirms this and

represents the first voucher for Southwestern

Cameroon.

Silurana tropicalis GRAY, 1864

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: HWH

33, 1019. Habitat: F.

Remarks: One specimen was found in a rock

pool in the river Nkebe together with a large

number of Conraua goliath tadpoles.

Xenopus fraseri BOULENGER, 1905

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

78220, 81134, 81695. Habitat: F.

66

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN et al.

Bufonidae

Bufo latifrons BOULENGER, 1900

Localities: NWF, EYI. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 68967, 78221-8, 81135-6, HWH 49,

1019. Habitat: F.

Bufo maculatus HALLOWELL, 1854

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69149-51, 69555, 75442-5, 81137.

Habitat: FB.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for Ebo-

ne (650 m).

Bufo superciliaris BOULENGER, 1888 “1887”

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimen: HWH

885. Habitat: F.

Remarks: This species is feared by local

people as it is considered to transmit leprosy.

It plays, however, an important role in tradi-

tional medicine. Specimens are killed, dried

and then used as ingredients for a number of

concoctions. Although considered rare, spe-

cimens were brought to us several times by

villagers and others were observed along

river banks.

Bufo tuberosus GÜNTHER, 1858

Localities: NWF, NGU, SUM. Voucher spe-

cimens: ZFMK 69152-4, 69442-3, 75441,

78244, 81579, HWH 1014. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for E-

komtolo and the western flank of Mt. Nlona-

ko at an elevation of 950-1,000 m.

Nectophryne afra BUCHHOLZ & PETERS, 1875

Localities: NWF, EYI, NGU. Voucher spe-

cimens: ZFMK 69485-9, 75439-40, 78229-

30, 81551-2, HWH 15. Habitat: F.

Nectophryne batesi BOULENGER, 1913

Localities: NWF, EYI, NGU. Voucher spe-

cimens: ZFMK 69122-6, 69421, 69446-53,

69490, 78231-9, HWH 164, 1059-61, 1172.

Habitat: F.

Werneria mertensiana AMIET, 1976

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

69127-44, 75395-437, 78243, 78251-2,

HWH 1062-3, 1169-71. Habitat: F.

Remarks: This locality represents the type

locality for this species. Reported by AMIET

(1975) for the western flank of Mt. Nlonako

at an elevation of 950-1,000 m. We follow

the nomenclature proposed by FROST (2002)

and as discussed in RÖDEL et al. (2004) using

the species name mertensiana.

Wolterstorffina parvipalmata (WERNER,

1898)

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

69145-8, 69397, 69491-6, 75438, 78240-2,

HWH 2, 69-72, 154. Habitat: F.

Petropedetidae

Dimorphognathus africanus (HALLOWELL,

1858)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69259-62, 69533-4, 75490-6, 75626-

7, 78003-5, 78433-59, 78672, 78686-92,

81141-4, 81665-8, 81705-6, HWH 3, 78-80,

87-90, 161, 175, 1016. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and by DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOW-

SETT (1999) for NGU. Advertisement calls

were frequently heard from mid-February to

the beginning of May.

Tab. 2. Temperature and relative humidity at different elevations on Mt. Nlonako. Parentheses indicate that

the data collecting period did not cover a complete dry season.

locality

temperature °C

relative humidity %

min

max

x

min max

Nkebe WF 470 m

16.4

31.5 23.4

12

100

Eyimba

710 m

16.8

28.7 22.1

(74) 100

Nguéngué 1,140 m

12.9

29.1 18.7

14

100

Summit

1,660 m

12.9

24.8 17.9

17

100

67

African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

Petropedetes cameronensisREICHENOW, 1874

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69233, 78355-63, 81153-4, 81614-9,

HWH 19, 102-3, 105-8, 155, 167, 1021-4.

Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and by DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOW-

SETT (1999) for NGU. Specimens guarding

clutches were observed from February to

May.

Petropedetes johnstoni (BOULENGER, 1888)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimen: HWH

104. Habitat: F.

Fig. 3. Some colour morphs of Phrynobatrachus auritus at the Nkebe waterfall site at Ekomtolo.

68

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN et al.

Petropedetes newtoni (BOCAGE, 1895)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 78364, 81553-5, 81711, HWH 6, 47.

Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo.

Petropedetes parkeri AMIET, 1983

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69207-11, 69288, 69497, 75539-52,

75625, 78365-6, 81167-8, 81622-3, HWH

48, 101, 1069, 1179-89. Habitat: F.

Petropedetes perreti AMIET, 1973

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69212-32, 75519-38, 78017-23,

HWH 117, 1178. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for the

western flank of Mt. Nlonako at an elevation

of 950-1,000 m.

Phrynobatrachus auritus BOULENGER, 1900

Localities: NWF, EYI, NGU. Voucher spe-

cimens: ZFMK 68968-9, 69289-93, 75480-

3, 77988-96, 78506-653, 78673-5, 78698-9,

78701-4, 81139-40, 81687-94, HWH 24-6,

123-47, 157, 168, 173-4, 1025-32. Habitat:

F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and the western flank of Mt. Nlo-

nako at an elevation of 950-1,000 m and by

DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOWSETT (1999) for NGU

as “Phrynobatrachus sp. prob. auritus”. E-

specially at NWF we observed a large num-

ber of different colour and pattern morphs for

this species (Fig. 3). It remains open if this

reflects polymorphism within the species or

indicates distinct genetic units.

Phrynobatrachus batesii (BOULENGER, 1906)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 75459-79, 75623-4, 78503-5. Habi-

tat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo.

Phrynobatrachus cornutus (BOULENGER,

1906)

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo. Not found by us.

Phrynobatrachus cricogaster PERRET, 1957

Localities: NGU, SUM. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69294-302, 69444, 69505, 75488-9,

78460-72, HWH 151. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for the

western flank of Mt. Nlonako at an elevation

of 950-1,000 m and by DOWSETT-LEMAIRE &

DOWSETT (1999) for NGU.

Phrynobatrachus hylaios PERRET, 1959

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimen: HWH 81.

Habitat: F.

Remarks: This species is known from the

southern lowland forest of Cameroon (LE-

BRETON 1999) and western Congo (LARGEN &

DOWSETT-LEMAIRE 1991); SCHMITZ (1998) re-

corded one specimen from Mt. Kupe, appro-

ximately 30 km SW of Mt. Nlonako.

Phrynobatrachus werneri (NIEDEN, 1910)

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

69303-17, 69393, 69506-12, 69539-46. Ha-

bitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by DOWSETT-LEMAIRE &

DOWSETT (1999) for NGU.

Phrynobatrachus sp.

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

78693-7, 81647-8. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Possibly an undescribed species

which will be discussed in a separate publi-

cation.

Phrynodon sandersoni PARKER, 1935

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69263-87, 69513-6, 78473-502,

81637-40, HWH 8, 84-6. Habitat: F.

Phrynodon sp.

• colour morph 1 sensu SCHMITZ, 1998

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

HWH 83, 1034. Habitat: F.

Differs from P. sandersoni by a white stripe

which extends from the tip of the snout, over

the upper lip, ending above the arm.

• colour morph 2 sensu SCHMITZ, 1998 (Fig. 4

top)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimen: HWH

1033. Habitat: F.

69

African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

Dark-brown to black dorsal colouration with

two dorso-lateral white-grey stripes. Repor-

ted by AMIET (1975) for the western flank of

Mt. Nlonako at an elevation of 950-1,000 m

and by DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOWSETT (1999) for

NGU.

• colour morph 3 sensu SCHMITZ, 1998

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimen: HWH

162. Habitat: F.

Dark-brown to black dorsal colouration with

two light, broad, irregular shaped spots of

greenish or reddish colouration. Reported by

AMIET (1975) for Ekomtolo.

• colour morph 4 sensu SCHMITZ, 1998 (Fig. 4

middle)

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimen: HWH 82,

163. Habitat: F.

Broad, light red, longitudinal stripe on dor-

sum.

• other colour morphs

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimen:

ZFMK 81138, HWH 160, 179. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Additional to these colour morphs

we found specimens with a narrow yellow

dorsal stripe (Fig. 4 bottom). As all these

specimens cannot be distinguished morpho-

logically, except by their colour and dorsal

pattern, we treat them as one species with

different colour morphs. Further taxonomic

resolution will likely depend on analysis of

the advertisement calls and molecular gene-

tics.

Ranidae

Amnirana albolabris (HALLOWELL, 1856)

Reported by AMIET (1975) for Ebone (650 m)

and Badjoki (550 m) as Hylarana albolabris.

Amnirana amnicola (PERRET, 1977)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

78314-32, 81675-6. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo as Hylarana sp. 1.

Amnirana asperrima (PERRET, 1977)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

77977-87, 78002, 78333-54, 81677-81,

81700-1, 81703, 81708, 81713, HWH 28-9,

109-10, 165. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo as Hylarana sp. 2. We heard adver-

tisement calls from the end of February to the

beginning of May and observed two amplec-

ting specimens on 3 April 2001.

Amnirana lepus (ANDERSSON, 1903)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

77975-6, 81657. Habitat: F.

Amnirana sp. indet.

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

81145-6, 81700-1. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Juvenile specimens which could

not be identified to the species level.

Conraua crassipes (BUCHHOLZ & PETERS,

1875)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69351-8, 75446-52, 77934-6, 78273-

83, 81624, 81684-6, HWH 1, 111, 1017.

Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo.

Conraua goliath (BOULENGER, 1906)

Localities: NWF, EYI. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69369, 77927-33, HWH 51, 176, 190-

1, 235-9. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Conraua goliath is the largest anu-

ran species and can reach a weight of more

than three kilograms. It is considered a deli-

cacy in Cameroon and is heavily hunted in

the study area and sometimes found in the

local bush-meat markets.

Conraua robusta NIEDEN, 1908

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69359-68, 77923-6, HWH 30, 193.

Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and the western flank of Mt.

Nlonako at an elevation of 950-1,000 m.

Locally known as “le petit frère de grenouille

Goliath“ (= C. goliath) it plays a similar

important role as bush-meat. Specimens are

readily found in villages and at markets

during the dry season where they are sold for

consumption.

70

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN et al.

Ptychadena aequiplicata (WERNER, 1898)

Localities: NWF, EYI, NGU. Voucher speci-

mens: ZFMK 81147-8, 81669-70, HWH 4,

11, 1018. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for E-

komtolo. Many advertisement calls were

heard in mid-February.

Ptychadena cf. mascareniensis (DUMÉRIL &

BIBRON, 1841)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

77997-9, 81149, 81710. Habitat: FB.

Remarks: LAMOTTE & OHLER (1997) redisco-

vered the syntypes of Ptychadena bibroni

HALLOWELL, 1845 and synonymize P. maccar-

thyensis with P. bibroni. We tentatively as-

sign our specimens to P. cf. mascareniensis

which is likely to be a species complex rather

than a single species (VENCES et al. 2004).

Ptychadena superciliaris (GÜNTHER, 1858)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

78000-1, 81150-2. Habitat: F.

Remarks: GUIBÉ & LAMOTTE (1958) reported

this species for Cameroon and PERRET (1966)

from Foulassi. However, LEBRETON (1999)

notes that “according to AMIET (in litt., 1998)

the species is absent from Cameroon”.

Arthroleptidae

Arthroleptis adelphus PERRET, 1966

Localities: NWF, EYI, NGU. Voucher speci-

mens: ZFMK 69251-7, 69392, 69480-2,

78416-23, 78657, 78661-4, 78678, 78705,

81171-5, 81641-4. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo.

Arthroleptis cf. adolfifriederici NIEDEN, 1911

“1910” (Fig. 5)

Localities: NWF, NGU, SUM. Voucher speci-

mens: ZFMK 78405, 81645-6, HWH 1066-8.

Habitat: F.

Remarks: The discovery of this species at

NWF is somewhat surprising due to the low

elevation. LAWSON (1993), however, reports

two specimens from the lowlands near the

Ikenge Research Station in the Korup Natio-

nal Park, Southwest Cameroon. Reported by

DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOWSETT (1999) between

NGU and SUM above 1,350 m. Our material

differs from topotypic material from Rwanda

(type locality).

Arthroleptis variabilis MATSCHIE, 1893

Localities: NWF, EYI, NGU. Voucher speci-

mens: ZFMK 69238-50, 69390-1, 69457,

75497-503, 78010-2, 78406-15, 78654-6,

78665, 81181-2, HWH 7. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo.

Fig. 4. Some colour morphs of Phrynodon sp. at

Mt. Nlonako. Top: colour morph 2 sensu SCHMITZ,

1998; middle: colour morph 4 sensu SCHMITZ, 1998;

bottom: colour morph with narrow dorsal stripe.

71

African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

Arthroleptis sp.

AMIET (1975) lists a possibly undescribed

species of Arthroleptis from Ekomtolo.

Cardioglossa elegans BOULENGER, 1906

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

78256, 78671, 81660, 81664. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and Ebone (650 m). ZFMK 81664

is a female with a snout-vent-length (SVL) of

39 mm and represents the largest known

specimen.

Cardioglossa gracilis BOULENGER, 1900

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69195, 75455, 78008-9, 78254-5,

81661-3, HWH 10, 75-6, 153, 159, 182. Ha-

bitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo.

Cardioglossa leucomystax (BOULENGER,

1903)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 78257-72, 78666-70, 78679, 78685,

78708-10, 81169-70, 81625-31, HWH, 9, 27,

73-4, 152, 158, 178, 180-1. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo.

Cardioglossa melanogaster AMIET, 1972

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimen: ZFMK

69532. Habitat: F.

Cardioglossa nigromaculata NIEDEN, 1908

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

81658-9. Habitat: F.

Remarks: This species appears to be locally

rare; LAWSON (1993) also reports only one

specimen from the Korup NP survey. Repor-

ted by AMIET (1975) for Ekomtolo.

Cardioglossa venusta AMIET, 1972

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

69194, 75453-4, 75572, 78253. Habitat: F.

Schoutedenella poecilonota (PETERS, 1863)

Localities: NWF, EYI, NGU. Voucher speci-

mens: ZFMK 68970-2, 69234-7, 69404,

69460-5, 69475-9, 75504-8, 75573-4,

78013-4, 78424-32, 78680-1, 81176-80,

81649-56, HWH 177. Habitat: F.

Schoutedenella sylvatica LAURENT, 1954

Mentioned by AMIET (1975) for Ekomtolo.

Schoutedenella taeniata BOULENGER, 1906

Localities: EYI, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69258, 69405, 69458-9. Habitat: F.

Remarks: AMIET (1975) mentions this species

also from Ekomtolo. PERRET (1991) restricts

the occurrence of S. bivittata to Guinea and

assigns all Cameroonian “bivittata” to taeni-

ata.

Astylosternidae

Astylosternus diadematus WERNER, 1898

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69159-64, 69548, 77962-5, 78303-6,

81165-6, 81702, HWH 5, 22, 166. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and the western flank of Mt. Nlo-

nako at an elevation of 950-1,000 m and by

DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOWSETT (1999) for NGU.

Advertisements calls were heard at the end of

February.

Astylosternus fallax AMIET, 1978 “1977”

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

78310, 81163-4, 81607-13. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo as Astylosternus sp. 3.

Fig. 5. Arthroleptis cf. adolfifriederici from the

summit area of Mt. Nlonako.

72

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN et al.

Astylosternus laurenti AMIET, 1978 “1977”

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo as Astylosternus sp. 2. Ekomtolo is

the type locality for the species (AMIET 1977).

Astylosternus montanus AMIET, 1978 “1977”

Localities: NGU, SUM. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69165-71, 69445, 69498-9, 69547,

78307-8. Habitat: F.

Astylosternus perreti AMIET, 1978 “1977”

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 78309, 81000, 81040, HWH 117.

Habitat: F.

Leptodactylodon bicolor AMIET, 1971

Reported by AMIET (1975) for the western

flank of Mt. Nlonako at an elevation of 950-

1,000 m. Not found by us.

Leptodactylodon boulengeri bamilekianus

AMIET, 1971

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69187-92, 69500, 78287, HWH 36,

91. Habitat: F.

Leptodactylodon mertensi PERRET, 1959

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

69193, 69396, 69501-2, 69535-6, 75457-8,

HWH 1071-2. Habitat: F.

Leptodactylodon ornatus AMIET, 1971

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimen: HWH

1070. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Mt. Nlonako (Nkongsamba) is the

type locality for this species. Reported by

AMIET (1975) for the western flank of Mt.

Nlonako at an elevation of 950-1,000 m.

Leptodactylodon ovatus orientalis AMIET,

1971

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 68181-6, 78015-6, 78284-6, 78683,

81155, 81620-1, 81712. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Leptodactylodon ovatus is repor-

ted by AMIET (1975) for Ekomtolo. Calls were

heard in May.

Nyctibates corrugatus BOULENGER, 1904

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

77941-7, 81156-7. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo.

Scotobleps gabonicus BOULENGER, 1900

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69155-6, 77948-61, 78288-302,

78682, 78706-7, 81158-61, 81697-9, 81704,

HWH 21, 118-22, 169. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo. Advertisement calls were heard in

late April and a clutch with eight eggs was

found in early May.

Trichobatrachus robustus BOULENGER, 1900

Localities: NWF, EYI, NGU, MEK. Voucher

specimens: ZFMK 68973, 69157-8, 75068,

77938-9, 81162, HWH 37-8, 92-6, 887, 985,

1064-5. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo. This species is consumed as bush-

meat but to a lower extent than Conraua

robusta.

Rhacophoridae

Chiromantis rufescens (GÜNTHER, 1869)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 77966-70, 78245-50, 81682-3, HWH

97, 150, 1015, 1073-4. Habitat: FB.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo, Ebone (650 m) and Badjoki (550

m). We observed foam nests from January to

May. Advertisement calls were heard in Ja-

nuary and April.

Hyperoliidae

Hyperoliinae

Acanthixalus spinosus (BUCHHOLZ & PETERS,

1875)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimen: ZFMK

78313. Habitat: F.

Afrixalus dorsalis (PETERS, 1875)

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

75553-4, HWH 149. Habitat: FB.

73

African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

Hyperolius guttulatus GÜNTHER, 1858

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

81673, HWH 34, 1165-8. Habitat: FB.

Remarks: Recorded by AMIET (1975) for Bad-

joki (550 m).

Hyperolius kuligae MERTENS, 1940

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimen:

ZFMK 78367, HWH 1083. Habitat: F.

Hyperolius ocellatus GÜNTHER, 1858

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 75516-8, 78006-7, 78368-80, 81632-

6, HWH 14, 17, 98-100, 156, 1035, 1084,

1177. Habitat: FB.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and Ebone (650 m). We observed

amplexus in this species in November and

April. End of January 2003 we found a clutch

on a leaf above a creek.

Hyperolius pardalis LAURENT, 1948 “1947”

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

69320-49. Habitat: FB.

Hyperolius sylvaticus nigeriensis SCHIØTZ,

1967

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

78381-3. Habitat: F.

Hyperolius sp. 6 sensu AMIET 1975 & 1978

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

HWH 172, 1085. Habitat: F.

Remarks: This species exhibits an overall

similarity to Hyperolius riggenbachii. Re-

corded by AMIET (1975) for Ebone (650 m).

Leptopelinae

Leptopelis aubryi (DUMÉRIL, 1856)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

81193-5, HWH 114, 1037-8. Habitat: FB.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo, for Ebone (650 m) and Badjoki

(550 m).

Leptopelis boulengeri (WERNER, 1898)

Locality: NWF, EYI. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 77974, 78399-401, 81592-4, 81707,

HWH 192. Habitat: F.

Afrixalus lacteus PERRET, 1976

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimen: HWH

1079. Habitat: F.

Afrixalus laevis (AHL, 1930)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69319, 81188-9, 81566-71. Habitat:

F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo. Females filled with eggs were

found in April and May. We found a clutch

on the tip of a leaf approximately 30 cm

above the ground on 10 April 2003.

Afrixalus paradorsalis PERRET, 1960

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 77940, 81183-4, 81674, HWH 13,

1081, 1173-6. Habitat: FB.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo, Ebone (650 m) and Badjoki (550

m).

Alexteroon obstetricans (AHL, 1931)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

81190, 81559-61. Habitat: F.

Remarks: A ring-like clutch with the female

in the middle was observed on a leaf on 4

May 2003. SCHIØTZ (1999) describes such egg

guarding behaviour.

Chlorolius koehleri (MERTENS, 1940)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimen: ZFMK

81051, 81191. Habitat: F, FB.

Hyperolius acutirostris BUCHHOLZ & PETERS,

1875

Recorded by AMIET (1975) for Ekomtolo as

Hyperolius sp. 4.

Hyperolius bolifambae MERTENS, 1938

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

81187, 81572-8. Habitat: FB.

Remarks: Recorded by AMIET (1975) for Ebo-

ne (650 m) and Badjoki (550 m). Advertise-

ment calls were heard in the beginning of

May 2003.

Hyperolius cf. camerunensis AMIET, 2004

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimens: ZFMK

81203-4, MHNG 2645.35. Habitat: FB.

74

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN et al.

taxon

abundance1

altitudinal distribution2

zoogeographic distribution3

500m 700m 1,100m 1,700m

CE

WA

CA SSA

Gymnophiona

Caeciliidae

Geotrypetes seraphini

+

–––

– –

–––

+

+

Herpele squalostoma

+

–––

– –

–––

+

Anura

Pipidae

Hymenochirus boettgeri boettgeri

+

–––

+

Silurana tropicalis

+

–––

+

+

Xenopus fraseri

+

–––

+

Bufonidae

Bufo latifrons

++

–––

–––

+

+

Bufo maculatus

+++

–––

– –

–––

+

Bufo superciliaris

+

–––

+

+

Bufo tuberosus

++

–––

–––

–––

–––

+

Nectophryne afra

++

–––

–––

–––

+

Nectophryne batesi

++

–––

–––

–––

+

Werneria mertensiana

+++

–––

+

Wolterstorffina parvipalmata

++

–––

+4

Petropedetidae

Dimorphognathus africanus

+++

–––

–––

–––

+

Petropedetes cameronensis

+++

–––

–––

–––

+4

Petropedetes johnstoni

+

–––

+

Petropedetes newtoni

+

–––

– –

–––

+

Petropedetes parkeri

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Petropedetes perreti

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Phrynobatrachus auritus

+++

–––

–––

–––

+

Phrynobatrachus batesii

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Phrynobatrachus cornutus*

(+)

–––

+

Phrynobatrachus cricogaster

++

–––

–––

+4

Phrynobatrachus hylaios

+

–––

+

Phrynobatrachus werneri

+++

–––

+4

Phrynobatrachus sp.

+

–––

+

Phrynodon sandersoni

+++

–––

– –

–––

+

Phrynodon sp.

+

–––

– –

–––

+

Ranidae

Amnirana albolabris*

(+)

–––

+

+

Amnirana amnicola

++

–––

+

Amnirana asperrima

+++

–––

+

Amnirana lepus

+

–––

+

Conraua crassipes

+++

–––

– –

–––

+

Conraua goliath

+

–––

+

Conraua robusta

++

–––

–––

–––

+

Ptychadena aequiplicata

++

–––

–––

–––

+

+

Ptychadena cf. mascareniensis

++

–––

+

+

Ptychadena perreti

+

–––

+

Ptychadena superciliaris

+

–––

+

Arthroleptidae

Arthroleptis adelphus

+++

–––

–––

–––

+

Arthroleptis cf. adolfifriederici

+

–––

– –

–––

–––

+

Arthroleptis variabilis

+++

–––

–––

–––

+

+

Arthroleptis sp.*

(+)

–––

+

Cardioglossa elegans

+

–––

+

Cardioglossa gracilis

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Cardioglossa leucomystax

+++

–––

– –

–––

+

+

Cardioglossa melanogaster

+

–––

+

Cardioglossa nigromaculata

+

–––

+4

Cardioglossa venusta

++

–––

+

Schoutedenella poecilonota

+++

–––

–––

–––

+

+

75

African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

Schoutedenella sylvatica*

(+)

–––

+

Schoutedenella taeniata

+

–––

–––

+

Astylosternidae

Astylosternus diadematus

+++

–––

– –

–––

+

Astylosternus fallax

++

–––

+

Astylosternus laurenti*

+

–––

+

Astylosternus montanus

++

–––

–––

+

Astylosternus perreti

+

–––

– –

–––

+

Leptodactylodon bicolor*

(+)

(––)

+4

Leptodactylodon boulengeri

bamilekianus

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Leptodactylodon mertensi

++

–––

+

Leptodactylodon ornatus

+

–––

+

Leptodactylodon ovatus orientalis

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Nyctibates corrugatus

++

–––

+

Scotobleps gabonicus

+++

–––

– –

–––

+

Trichobatrachus robustus

++

–––

–––

–––

+

Rhacophoridae

Chiromantis rufescens

+++

–––

– –

–––

+

+

Hyperoliidae

Hyperoliinae

Acanthixalus spinosus

+

–––

+

Afrixalus dorsalis

+

–––

+

+

Afrixalus lacteus

+

–––

+

Afrixalus laevis

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Afrixalus paradorsalis

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Alexteroon obstetricans

+

–––

+

Chlorolius koehleri

+

–––

+4

Hyperolius acutirostris*

(+)

–––

+

Hyperolius bolifambae

++

–––

+

Hyperolius cf. camerunensis

+

–––

+

Hyperolius guttulatus

++

–––

+

Hyperolius kuligae

+

–––

– –

–––

+

Hyperolius ocellatus

+++

–––

– –

–––

+

Hyperolius pardalis

++

–––

+

Hyperolius sylvaticus nigeriensis

+

–––

+

Hyperolius sp. 6 sensu

AMIET 1975 & 1978

+

–––

– –

–––

+

Leptopelinae

Leptopelis aubryi

++

–––

+

Leptopelis boulengeri

++

–––

–––

+

Leptopelis brevirostris

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Leptopelis calcaratus

+++

–––

–––

–––

+

Leptopelis millsoni

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Leptopelis modestus

+

–––

+

Leptopelis notatus

+

–––

+

Leptopelis cf. ocellatus

+

–––

+

Leptopelis omissus

++

–––

–––

+

Leptopelis rufus

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Kassininae

Opisthothylax immaculatus

++

–––

– –

–––

+

Tab. 3. Abundance, altitudinal distribution at Mt. Nlonako and zoogeographic distribution in Africa of

amphibian species of Mt. Nlonako.

*after AMIET (1975), not found by us; 1based on voucher specimens and observations, + = rare, ++ =

moderately abundant, +++ = abundant; 2based on voucher specimens and observations, elevation in meters

corresponds to the major study sites; 3based on FROST (2002), CE = Cameroon endemic (but see 4), WA

= West Africa, CA = Central Africa, SSA = Sub-Saharan Africa; 4distributed in Cameroon and

westernmost Nigeria.

76

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN et al.

Tab. 4. Amphibian species richness of three different rainforest areas in southwestern and southern

Cameroon. Numbers in parentheses are the number of species directly recorded by the authors for the areas.

NP = National Park; FR = Faunal Reserve. Nkongsamba area includes Mt. Nlonako. Species recorded

from Yaounde are excluded from the list of LEBRETON (1999).

Mt. Nlonako

Korup NP

Dja FR

Nkongsamba area

area in km2

150

1,240

8,400

10,000

amphibian species

93 (86)

88 (78)

70 (10)

100

amphibian species/km2

0.62

0.07

0.01

0.01

anuran species

91 (86)

83 (76)

68 (10)

100

source

this study

LAWSON 1993

LEBRETON 1999

AMIET 1975

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo. Advertisement calls were heard

end of February; a clutch was found end of

March.

Leptopelis brevirostris (WERNER, 1898)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69375-8, 69385-88, 77971, 78392-8,

81197, 81709, HWH 32, 1078. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo.

Leptopelis calcaratus (BOULENGER, 1906)

Localities: NWF, EYI, NGU. Voucher speci-

mens: ZFMK 69379-83, 69389, 69399-402,

69454-56, 69470-4, 69503-4, 72857,

75509-13, 75570-1, 77972, 78386-91,

81196, 81562-5, HWH 12, 113, 148, 1036,

1076-7. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and Ebone (650 m) and by

DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOWSETT (1999) for NGU.

Leptopelis millsoni (BOULENGER, 1895)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 78403-4, 81671-2, HWH 171, 1181-

2. Habitat: F.

Leptopelis modestus (WERNER, 1898)

Locality: NGU. Voucher specimen: ZFMK

75456. Habitat: F.

Leptopelis notatus (PETERS, 1875)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimen: ZFMK

69374, 81199, HWH 112. Habitat: F.

Leptopelis cf. ocellatus (MOCQUARD, 1902)

Locality: NWF. Voucher specimen: HWH

35. Habitat: F.

Leptopelis omissus AMIET, 1992 “1991”

Localities: NWF, EYI. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69384, 78311-2, 81192, 81595-

81606, HWH 170. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo as Leptopelis sp. 1 and by

DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOWSETT (1999) for NGU.

Amplexus was observed in late April.

Leptopelis rufus REICHENOW, 1874

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69371-3, 75514-5, 77973, 78402,

81198, 81696, HWH 20, 115-6, 1075. Habi-

tat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and Ebone (650 m). Amplecting

specimens were seen in January and Februa-

ry. This species regularly feigned death when

handled.

Kassininae

Opisthothylax immaculatus (BOULENGER,

1903)

Localities: NWF, NGU. Voucher specimens:

ZFMK 69318, 78384-5, 81185-6, 81556-8,

HWH 1080. Habitat: F.

Remarks: Reported by AMIET (1975) for

Ekomtolo and Ebone (650 m) and by

DOWSETT-LEMAIRE & DOWSETT (1999) for NGU.

Advertisement calls were heard on 21

February 2003.

77

African biodiversity hotspots: the amphibians of Mt. Nlonako, Cameroon

Discussion

We recorded a total of 93 amphibian species

from Mt. Nlonako (table 3). Thirty-nine per-

cent of all 236 amphibian species recorded

for Cameroon (LEBRETON 1999) occur at Mt.

Nlonako. Mt. Nlonako hosts the most species

rich single-locality amphibian fauna in Af-

rica (RÖDEL & AGYEI 2003). The subsequent

area of species richness is represented by

Korup NP approximately 130 km W of Mt.

Nlonako with 88 amphibian species (LAWSON

1993). This is followed by Mt. Nimba in the

Guinea-Liberia-Ivory Coast triangle (57 spe-

cies, GUIBÉ & LAMOTTE 1958, GUIBÉ 1963,

SCHIØTZ 1967), Mt. Alén in Equatorial Guinea

(49 species, DE LA RIVA 1994) and Haute

Dodo and Cavally forests in Ivory Coast

(42 species, RÖDEL & BRANCH 2002). These

results may not only represent the actual

pattern of amphibian species richness in the

rainforest areas of West and Central Africa

but may also represent survey activities and

gaps as many areas with a very high potential

for exceptional species richness have not

been sampled adequately.

Within Cameroon, our data shows not

only the highest species richness for a single

locality, but also the highest number of spe-

cies per area (km2) as shown in Table 4.

The number of yet undescribed species

(five species: Phrynobatrachus

sp.,

Phrynodon sp., Arthroleptis sp., Hyperolius

sp. 1, H. sp. 6) at first is surprising. However,

considering the large number of anuran spe-

cies described from Cameroon by PERRET

(1957, 1959b, 1960, 1971, 1977) and AMIET

(1970, 1971b, 1972a, 1972c, 1973b, 1977,

1980a, 1980b, 1981, 1983a, 1991, 2001,

2004a, b) during the past five decades, it is

surprising that a considerable number of

undescribed species still seems to exist. This

underlines the relevance of the area relative

to the amphibian diversity.

Of the 93 species recorded from Mt. Nlo-

nako, two species are caecilians. Of the

91 anuran species three are Pipidae (3 %),

eight are Bufonidae (9 %), 15 are Petropede-

tidae (16 %), eleven are Ranidae (12 %), 13

are Arthroleptidae (14 %), 13 are Astyloster-

nidae (14 %), one is Rhacophoridae (1 %)

and 27 are Hyperolidae (30 %) with 16 Hy-

peroliinae species, ten Leptopelinae species

and one Kassininae species.

The distribution of species along an ele-

vational gradient shows that most species are

found at lower elevations (table 3). Only a

few species can be considered purely mon-

tane such as Phrynobatrachus cricogaster

and Astylosternus montanus which are ex-

clusively found above 1,000 m elevation.

country

locality

species CBR source

Cameroon

Nkongsamba area

100

0.77

AMIET 1975

Cameroon

Korup National Park

88

0.72

LAWSON 1993

Cameroon

Mt. Kupe & Bakossi Mtns.

49

0.62

SCHMITZ 1998

Cameroon

Dja Faunal Reserve

70

0.59

LEBRETON 1999

Equatorial Guinea Mt. Alén NP

49

0.52

DE LA RIVA 1994

Congo (RC)

Kouilou River basin

39

0.35

LARGEN & DOWSETT-LEMAIRE 1991

Guinea

Zima forest

27

0.17

BÖHME 1994 a, b

Ivory Coast

Haute Dodo

42

0.15

RÖDEL & BRANCH 2002

Ivory Coast

Cavally forests

42

0.14

RÖDEL & BRANCH 2002

Ivory Coast

Mt. Peko NP

33

0.14

RÖDEL & ERNST 2003

Ivory Coast

Marahoué NP

34

0.14

RÖDEL & ERNST 2003

Ivory Coast

Mt. Sangbé NP

33

0.10

RÖDEL 2003

Ghana

Togo-Volta highlands

33

0.10

RÖDEL & AGYEI 2003

Tab. 5. West and Central African rainforest amphibian faunas and their relationships with the Mt. Nlonako

amphibian fauna. CBR = coefficient of biogeographic resemblance (DUELLMAN 1990).

78

HANS-WERNER HERRMANN et al.

by human encroachment as notable on the

northern and western slopes of Mt. Nlonako

adjacent to the town Nkongsamba and (3) the

hunting and consumption as food of species

like Conraua goliath, C. robusta and Tri-

chobatrachus robustus. Another threat

might be posed by agro-chemicals, which are

frequently used in the extensive coffee farms

of the area and to poison fish in the rivers for

subsequent sale at the local bush-meat mar-

kets. The effect of such substances on am-

phibian eggs, larvae and adults warrants ad-

ditional research.

Acknowledgements

We thank ALSCO (American Linen Supply Com-

pany) Germany, especially HORST NOBIS, for their

generous financial support during the initial phase

of this project and the continuation thereafter. The

Zoological Garden Cologne, Germany, supported

the work of H.-W. HERRMANN in many ways. The

Cameroon Ministry of Scientific and Technical

Research (MINREST) issued research permits and

the Ministry of Environment and Forestry

(MINEF) issued collecting and export permits. The

Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Bonn granted import

permits. We thank the traditional authorities of Mt.

Nlonako for permitting us to work in their tribal

areas. The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF)

Cameroon and the WWF Mount Kupe Forest

Project helped with logistics, literature, and infor-

mation on local issues. In the field we acknowledge

the efforts of OLIVER EUSKIRCHEN, OTTO MESUMBE

and many other Cameroonian assistants; their

knowledge of their forests and the animals therein

helped make this survey possible.

In a broader biogeographic context, 44 of

the amphibian species of Mt. Nlonako can be

considered Central African in distribution

(Table 3). Only four species have a West

African distribution; twelve are distributed

in West and Central Africa. Thirty-one of the

recorded species are endemic to Cameroon

and seven occur in the West Cameroon

mountains and the mountains of western-

most Nigeria (i. e. Obudu plateau), which

form a zoogeographical unit. Only one spe-

cies, Bufo maculatus, has a wider distribu-

tion in sub-saharan Africa.

The closer biogeographic relationship

with Central Africa as compared with West

Africa is underlined by the coefficient of

biogeographic resemblance (CBR) as dem-

onstrated in table 5. Here, the amphibian

fauna of the south Cameroonian Dja Faunal

Reserve, the Kouilou River basin in Congo

and Mt. Alén NP in Equatorial Guinea show

a much higher degree of resemblance than

areas in Guinea, Ivory Coast or Ghana. Thus

the Mt. Nlonako amphibian fauna can be

regarded as endemic and/or Central African.

The exceptional species richness and

high degree of endemicity of Mt. Nlonako

and the West Cameroonian mountain range

can be explained by palaeogeographic

events. Historically this area has served as a

refuge during drastic climate fluctuations.

During the Pleistocene until circa 20,000

years ago, African wet forests were restricted

to a few isolated areas (LIVINGSTONE 1982).

Those fluctuations and refuges played an

important role in the evolution of the high

number of (endemic) amphibian species as

LAWSON (1993) also describes for the Korup

NP.

Bufo superciliaris is the only species

listed in CITES appendices and thus for

which international trade is regulated. The

only species listed as threatened is Conraua

goliath (vulnerable, IUCN 2003). This spe-

cies is the only amphibian species protected

by Cameroonian law. Threats to the Mt. Nlo-

nako amphibian fauna are (1) habitat de-

struction by logging in the eastern and sou-

thern parts of the area, (2) habitat destruction

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Manuscript received: 11 October 2004

Author’s addresses: HANS-WERNER HERRMANN, Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (C.R.E.S.),

Zoological Society of San Diego, P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112-0551, U.S.A., e-mail:

hwherrmann@sandiegozoo.org, present address: University of Arizona, Arizona Research Laboratories,

Genomic Analysis and Technology Core, 1041 East Lowell, Biological Sciences West 246b, Tucson,

AZ 85721, U.S.A., E-mail: hwh@email.arizona.edu; WOLFGANG BÖHME, Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut

und Museum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D-53113 Bonn, Germany; PATRICIA A. HERRMANN,

P.O. Box 3055, Messa, Yaounde, Cameroon; MIRCO PLATH, Institut für Systematische Zoologie, Museum

für Naturkunde Berlin, Invalidenstraße 43, D-10115 Berlin, Germany; ANDREAS SCHMITZ, Department of

Herpetology & Ichthyology, Muséum d’histoire naturelle, C. P. 6434, CH-1211 Geneva 6, Switzerland;

MARKUS SOLBACH, Am Dönberg 65, D-42111 Wuppertal, Germany.