''Cardioglossa leucomystax'' is a species of frog in the family

Arthroleptidae The Arthroleptidae are a family of frogs found in sub-Saharan Africa. This group includes African treefrogs in the genus ''Leptopelis'' along with the terrestrial breeding squeakers '' Arthroleptis'', and several genera restricted to the Guinea ...

. It is found in large parts of Central Africa ( Cameroon, southeastern Central African Republic,

Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea ( es, Guinea Ecuatorial; french: Guinée équatoriale; pt, Guiné Equatorial), officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea ( es, link=no, República de Guinea Ecuatorial, french: link=no, République de Guinée équatoria ...

, Gabon, the

Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...

, and northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo), extending into south-easternmost West Africa ( Nigeria). The type locality is Cap Saint Jean in Equatorial Guinea. Populations from the Upper Guinean Forests of West Africa between Ghana and Sierra Leone previously allocated to this species were in 2008 described as a new species, ''

Cardioglossa occidentalis ''Cardioglossa'' is a genus of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae known as long-fingered frogs. They are native to West Africa, western and central Africa, with the greatest species richness in Cameroon. They are found near streams in lowland and ...

''. Common name silver long-fingered frog has been coined for ''Cardioglossa leucomystax''.

Description

Adult males measure and adult females in snout–vent length. The tympanum is easily visible. ''Cardioglossa leucomystax'' resembles ''Cardioglossa occidentalis'' but most obviously differs from it by the white infratympanal line that extends to the nostril (terminating below the eye in ''C. occidentalis''). The flanks are usually spotted, but in some populations the spots are almost absent, forming a nearly continuous line with the dark face mask. In juveniles, the spots may be entirely absent.

Habitat and conservation

''Cardioglossa leucomystax'', defined as including ''Cardioglossa occidentalis'', occur in lowland and lower montane forests, including secondary forests and heavily degraded habitats. They are usually found near stream margins with small stones and sand. Males call from among rocks in dense vegetation near the streams. Breeding takes place in streams during the dry season. This species is very common in parts of its range, notably in Gabon. It is probably affected by habitat loss. It occurs in some protected areas, such as the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Korup National Park in Cameroon.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2236798 leucomystax Frogs of Africa Amphibians of Cameroon Amphibians of the Central African Republic Amphibians of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Amphibians of Equatorial Guinea Amphibians of Gabon Fauna of Nigeria Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger Amphibians described in 1903 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot