''Phrynobatrachus werneri'' is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is only known with certainty from western Cameroon, although there is a putative record from

Chappal Waddi Chabbal Waadi (also known as Mountain of Death) is located in Nigeria and, at , is the country's highest point. It is located in Taraba State, near the border with Cameroon, on the edge of Gashaka Gumti Forest Reserve and Gashaka-Gumti National Pa ...

in Nigeria, close to the border of Cameroon; the earlier record from the Obudu Plateau in Nigeria is now assigned to ''

Phrynobatrachus schioetzi ''Phrynobatrachus'' is a genus of Sub-Saharan frogs that form the monogeneric family Phrynobatrachidae. Their common name is puddle frogs, dwarf puddle frogs, African puddle frogs, or African river frogs. The common name, puddle frog, refers to ...

'' described as a new species in 2011. The status of ''

Phrynobatrachus manengoubensis ''Phrynobatrachus manengoubensis'' is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is Endemism, endemic to Cameroon and only known from its Type locality (biology), type locality in the Monengouba Mountains. However, it is quite likely b ...

'' from Mount Manengouba remains unclear, with some questioning its distinctness from ''Phrynobatrachus werneri''. Common name Werner's river frog has been coined for this species.

Etymology

The

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

''werneri'' honours

Franz Werner Franz Josef Maria Werner (15 August 1867 in Vienna – 28 February 1939 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist and explorer. Specializing as a herpetologist and entomologist, Werner described numerous species and other taxa of frogs, snakes, inse ...

, an Austrian explorer, zoologist, and herpetologist.

Description

''Phrynobatrachus werneri'' is a small species measuring in

snout–vent length Snout–vent length (SVL) is a morphometric measurement taken in herpetology from the tip of the snout to the most posterior opening of the cloacal slit (vent)."direct line distance from tip of snout to posterior margin of vent" It is the most c ...

; Blackburn and Rödel (2011) give range for adult males. The tympanum is distinct. The tips of the digits are widened or expanded into small discs. The toes have no or only rudimentary webbing. The tympanic region is dark and shows a supratypanic ridge. Females are pale ventrally. Males have a black throat and some darker pigmentation on the chest and anterior of the belly.

Habitat and conservation

''Phrynobatrachus werneri'' is found in and around small bodies of water such as streams, roadside ditches, '' Raphia'' swamps and marshes in submontane and montane forest and grassland landscapes. It tolerates habitat alteration. Breeding takes place in still water, including marshes. It is a common and adaptable species that is not at serious risk from habitat change. It might occur in the Bafut-Ngemba Forest Reserve.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2244891 werneri Frogs of Africa Amphibians of Cameroon Endemic fauna of Cameroon Taxa named by Fritz Nieden Amphibians described in 1910 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Fauna of the Cameroonian Highlands forests