''Phrynobatrachus scapularis'' is a species of

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

in the family

Phrynobatrachidae ''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 ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found 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 found elsew ...

to the northern and northeastern

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...

. The specific name ''scapularis'' refers to shoulder blades (

scapula The scapula (plural scapulae or scapulas), also known as the shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone). Like their connected bones, the scapulae are paired, with each scapula on eithe ...

e). Common name Buta river frog has been coined for it.

Description

The male

holotype A holotype is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism, known to have been used when the species (or lower-ranked taxon) was formally described. It is either the single such physical example (or illustration) or one of several ...

measures in snout–vent length, though a later measurements was only . Adult males from the

Garamba National Park Garamba National Park is a nearly national park in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is among Africa's oldest parks, and was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980 for its protection of critical habitat for norther ...

measure and adult females in snout–vent length. The tympanum is present but is usually obscured by the skin, also described as being completely hidden. The toe webbing is extremely reduced. Dorsal skin is very warty, especially in the scapular region. Alcohol-preserved individuals from the Garamba National Park are dorsally brown with black spots that usually coincide with the warts; a few individuals have a light vertebral line. The type series has greyish dorsum with blackish mottling. The chin and, sometimes, throat have small brown spots. The abdomen is immaculate white to whitish with irregular brown spots. Adult males have a

vocal sac The vocal sac is the flexible membrane of skin possessed by most male frogs and toads. The purpose of the vocal sac is usually as an amplification of their mating or advertisement call. The presence or development of the vocal sac is one way o ...

Habitat and conservation

''Phrynobatrachus scapularis'' occurs in both the

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 forest zone. In the Garamba National Park, it occurs in wide variety of habitats (from marshes to savanna), but is more common in aquatic habitats, in particular marshes and marshy stream margins. Its habitat preferences in the forest zone are unclear, but it is assumed to tolerate habitat degradation and occur in farm bush habitats. Reproduction takes place during the wet season and is presumed to take place in water. This species believed not to face any significant threats. It occurs in the Garamba National Park.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2244928 scapularis Frogs of Africa Amphibians of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Endemic fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Taxa named by Gaston-François de Witte Amphibians described in 1933 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot