''Cardioglossa melanogaster'' is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...

in the family

Arthroleptidae The Arthroleptidae are a family (biology), 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 restrict ...

. It is found in the mountains of western

Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...

( Mount Manengouba, southernmost Bamileke Plateau, Mount Nlonako,

Bamenda Highlands The Western High Plateau, Western Highlands or Bamenda Grassfields is a region of Cameroon characterised by high relief, cool temperatures, heavy rainfall and savanna vegetation. The region lies along the Cameroon line and consists of mounta ...

Rumpi Hills The Rumpi Hills are an undulating mountain range with its highest peak, Mount Rata about located between the villages of Dikome-Balue, Dikome Balue and Mofako Balue, Ndian division in the Southwest region of Cameroon. The hills are situated at 4 ...

) and eastern

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

(

Obudu Plateau --> Obudu Plateau is a plateau found on the Oshie Ridge of the Sankwala Mountain range, in Cross River State, in the southeast of Nigeria. The plateau is found in Obanliku local government area of the Cross River State. The plateau extends toward ...

). Common name Amiet's long-fingered frog has been coined for it.

Description

Males measure and females in snout–vent length. Males have extremely long third fingers and spines in the fingers and in the groin; females lack these characteristics. The dorsum and flanks show distinctive tan and black patterning. The pupil is vertical and

iris Iris most often refers to: *Iris (anatomy), part of the eye * Iris (color), an ambiguous color term *Iris (mythology), a Greek goddess * ''Iris'' (plant), a genus of flowering plants * Iris (given name), a feminine given name, and a list of peopl ...

is gold. The white line running under the tympanum continues beyond the eye. The

tadpole A tadpole or polliwog (also spelled pollywog) is the Larva, larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully Aquatic animal, aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial animal, ...

s have a stream-adapted eel-like shape with long, muscular tails, narrow fins, and a long spiracle. The body is robust and elongated. The largest measured tadpole (

Gosner stage Gosner stage is a generalized system of describing stages of embryonal and larval development in anurans (frogs and toads). The Gosner system includes 46 numbered stages, from fertilized embryo (stage 1) to the completion of metamorphosis (stage ...

35) had a total length of , most of which was tail ().

Habitat and conservation

''Cardioglossa melanogaster'' occurs in montane forests, including areas with dense secondary growth. Its altitudinal range is

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of a location's vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) in reference to a vertical datum based on a historic mean sea level. In geodesy, it is formalized as orthometric height. The zero level ...

. Breeding takes place in streams, along which the males call. Tadpoles have been found in streams with very slow current within forest fragments and in degraded areas with farms nearby. During the day, the tadpoles were hiding under stones or dead leaves in the riverbed. ''Cardioglossa melanogaster'' is most abundant in the higher part of its altitudinal range. It is threatened by

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease ...

caused by agricultural encroachment (including plantations of tree crops), expanding human settlements, and extraction of wood for firewood and building materials. It occurs in the Bafut-Ngemba Forest Reserve in Cameroon, although this reserve requires improved protection.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2236636

melanogaster ''Melanogaster'' ("''black-bellied''") may refer to the following organisms: * Genera: ** ''Melanogaster'' (fungus), a genus of false truffles ** ''Melanogaster'' (fly), a genus of hoverflies * Species: ** ''Drosophila melanogaster ''Drosoph ...

Frogs of Africa Amphibians of West Africa Amphibians of Cameroon Fauna of Nigeria Amphibians described in 1972 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Fauna of the Cameroonian Highlands forests