Xenopus longipes sp. nov., a new polyploid pipid from western Cameroon

Abstract

Xenopus longipes sp. nov. is a new polyploid species (2n= 108) found so far only in Lake Oku in the volcanic highlands of western Cameroon. It is a small Xenopus (9 32-36 mm, o* 28-31 mm snout-vent length), heavly speckled with tiny black spots, dorsally and ventrally. Many specimens show large spots irregularly distributed on the caramel or darkbrown back; the ventral coloration is gray to bright orange. The limbs are thin and the feet (68% of body length) have very long toes and well developed dark webs; a diagnostic feature that distinguishes live X. longipes from the other small 4-clawed X. fr aseri and X. pygmaeus with shorter feet. X. longipes is distinct from all other Xenopus by several osteological characters such as laterally displaced parasagittal crests or paired nasals combined with unfused vertebrate I and II.