The amphibian fauna of Pendjari National Park and surroundings, northern Benin

Abstract

We present the results of the first comprehensive survey of the amphibian fauna of a savannah region in Benin, West Africa. We herein add 17 species to the countries’ amphibian list: Bufo pentoni, Hildebrandtia ornata, Pyxicephalus cf. edulis, Ptychadena bibroni, P. cf. schillukorum, P. tellini, P. tournieri, P. trinodis, Phrynobatrachus accraensis, P. francisci, P. gutturosus, Arthroleptis sp., Kassina cassinoides, K. fusca, K. senegalensis, Leptopelis bufonides and Hyperolius nasutus. We comment on the taxonomy and biology of some rare and/or unusual species. The amphibian species richness of the Pendjari area is among the most diverse of African savannahs. The species assemblage is mainly composed of ‘typical’ West African savannah frogs, especially those that are restricted to drier habitats. However, especially along the mountainous Atakora chain in the South of the area, we also recorded species that are dependent on higher humidity, e.g. Arthroleptis sp., Hyperolius sp. In the future, more emphasis should be given to survey this mountainous area that might prove to have close faunal affinities to the Togolese mountains.