THE OCCURRENCE OF NECTOPHRYNOIDES (ANURA BUFONIDAE) IN ETHIOPIA. A NEW CONCEPT OF THE GENUS WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES

Abstract

SUMMARY Information concerning the thigh myology, osteology of the skull and postcranial skeleton, external morphology and life history of two high elevation Ethiopian bufonids, one of which was previously known as Bufo osgoodi Loveridge, 1932, is presented and analysed and a comparison made with all the species currently assigned to Nectophrynoides Noble, 1926, with the exception of N. minutus Perret, 1972 of which no examples were available. The genus Nectophrynoides is redefined according to 25 characters and Bufo osgoodi transferred to it. The other Ethiopian form, which has inguinal amplexus, internal fertilisation and a terrestrial tadpole lacking larval mouthparts, is described as a new species (Nectophrynoides malcolmi). Reference is made to the morphological characteristics of other genera of bufonids.