''Cardioglossa venusta'' 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

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to 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 ...

. Specifically, it is known from Mount Manengouba, the Bamileke Highlands, Mount Nlonako, and the

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 ...

. Common name highland long-fingered frog has been coined for it.

Description

Males measure in snout–vent length. Males have extremely long third fingers and spines in the fingers and in the groin; females lack these characteristics. Dorsal markings and the white line running under the tympanum, typical for the genus ''Cardioglossa'', are absent.

Habitat and conservation

''Cardioglossa venusta'' occurs in montane forests and gallery forests near fast-flowing streams at elevations of

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 ...

. It can also persist in degraded, secondary habitat near more mature forest. Breeding takes place in streams. ''Cardioglossa venusta'' is a poorly known species with highly fragmented population. It is threatened by further

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, expanding human settlements, and harvesting of wood for both firewood and building materials. It might occur in the

Rumpi Hills Wildlife Reserve The Rumpi Hills Wildlife Reserve is a reserve in the Rumpi Hills in western Cameroon. This site is in area. The reserve was originally created in 1941. The hills are late tertiary volcanic rocks. Fauna include elephants, chimpanzee, drill and ...

, but this would offer only limited protection.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2240330 venusta Frogs of Africa Amphibians of Cameroon Endemic fauna of Cameroon Amphibians described in 1972 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Fauna of the Cameroonian Highlands forests