''Cardioglossa nigromaculata'' 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 the south-western Cameroon and in the extreme southern Nigeria at low altitudes. Common name blackspotted long-fingered frog has been coined for it.

Description

Males measure and females, based on a single specimen, 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, typical for the genus ''Cardioglossa'', consist of an hour-glass pattern, with a separate blotch on the head. The white line running under the tympanum terminates under the eye.

Habitat and conservation

''Cardioglossa nigromaculata'' occurs in lowland moist forests, as well as in degraded habitats near more mature forests, at elevations of

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

. Individuals can be spotted in small groups along forest watercourses, often in undergrowth among dead leaves and in holes. Breeding presumably takes place in streams where the tadpoles develop. ''Cardioglossa nigromaculata'' is fairly common species, but it is often missing from seemingly suitable habitat. The overall population is believed to be decreasing because of habitat loss caused by urbanization, agriculture, and logging. It occurs in the Korup National Park in Nigeria and in the Ebo Forest Reserve in Cameroon.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2240210 nigromaculata Frogs of Africa Amphibians of West Africa Amphibians of Cameroon Fauna of Nigeria Taxa named by Fritz Nieden Amphibians described in 1908 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot