''Kassina fusca'' is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...

in the family

Hyperoliidae The Hyperoliidae, or sedge frogs and bush frogs, are a large family of small to medium-sized, brightly colored frogs which contains more than 250 species in 19 genera. Seventeen genera are native to sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the monotypic ...

. Its common name is brown running frog or pale running frog. It is found in the West African savanna zone in

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...

, Gambia, Guinea,

Mali Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mal ...

Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to ...

, Ivory Coast,

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...

Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the nort ...

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesNigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. It probably occurs in

Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau ( ; pt, Guiné-Bissau; ff, italic=no, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫 𞤄𞤭𞤧𞤢𞥄𞤱𞤮, Gine-Bisaawo, script=Adlm; Mandinka: ''Gine-Bisawo''), officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau ( pt, República da Guiné-Bissau, links=no ), ...

, although there are no records from there.

Description

''Kassina fusca'' is a terrestrial frogs that moves by walking rather than jumping. They are small frogs measuring in snout–vent length. The dorsum is brown with scattered small darker spots (sometimes indistinct) and a larger, irregular, X-shaped spot in the shoulder region. There are small discs on the fingers.

Association with ants

''Kassina fusca'' have been found in nests of pomerine ants '' Paltothyreus tarsatus'' and '' Megaponera analis''. These ants are large (up to 18 and 25 mm in body length, respectively) and have powerful mandibles, poison glands, and stings, and would be able to kill the frog. Yet experiments showed that they were never seriously attacked by ''Paltothyreus tarsatus''. This is possible because of chemical components of the frogs' skin, offering the frog a degree of "chemical camouflage". The benefit of this association is that the ant nests provide ''Kassina fusca'' hiding places that remain moist during the dry season; such places are in short supply in the savanna and tend to be occupied by ants. Another species showing a similar association is '' Phrynomantis microps''.

Habitat and conservation

''Kassina fusca'' occurs in dry

savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland- grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...

and savanna woodlands. Breeding takes in temporary water, preferably large, well-vegetated, shallow pools. It is very common where it has been found, but the known distribution is patchy; it is often overlooked. It is believed to be an adaptable species that is not facing significant threats. It occurs in some protected areas, including the

Comoé National Park The Comoé National Park is a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Zanzan and Savanes Districts of north-eastern Ivory Coast. It is the largest protected area in West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernm ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1943331 Kassina Amphibians of West Africa Amphibians described in 1967 Taxa named by Arne Schiøtz Taxonomy articles created by Polbot