''Cardioglossa pulchra'' 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 Cameroon Range in western Cameroon (excluding Mount Cameroon) and in the Obudu Plateau in adjacent eastern Nigeria. Common name black 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 (though no female specimens of this particular species were inspected). Dorsal markings, typical for the genus ''Cardioglossa'', are fused to a broad black stripe that extends over the entire dorsum. The white line running under the tympanum is absent. The tadpoles have a depressed, elliptical body and a long tail with broadly rounded tip. The largest specimen (

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 ...

29) measures in total length, most of which is tail: body length is only .

Habitat and conservation

''Cardioglossa pulchra'' occurs in submontane and montane forests along fast-flowing streams; at higher elevations it occurs also along forest edges. It tolerates some deforestation. Its altitudinal range is

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 ...

. Breeding takes place in streams. Tadpoles have been found in a stream surrounded by farmbush vegetation, without any trees growing on the riverbanks. The tadpoles were found near the riverbank, hiding in the sandy mud or between stones. ''Cardioglossa pulchra'' can be common during the breeding season. The species is threatened by habitat loss 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 and in the Cross River National Park in Nigeria.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2240219 pulchra Frogs of Africa Amphibians of West Africa Amphibians of Cameroon Fauna of Nigeria Amphibians described in 1963 Taxa named by Arne Schiøtz Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Fauna of the Cameroonian Highlands forests