Hyperolius guttulatus

Appearance

Hyperolius guttulatus is a relatively large member of its genus, with males measuring 27–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in) and females 29–37 mm (1.1–1.5 in) in snout–vent length. The body is broad and flat and there is a conspicuous dark canthal stripe. The pupil is horizontal. Males have a large gular flap. There are two colour phases:

All juveniles and many mature males display phase "J". In this phase, the dorsum is dull bluish to yellowish green; ventral surfaces are greenish yellow. There is a light stripe above the dark canthal stripe. There might also be some diffuse, dark spots, and the dorsolateral line might be bordered with black.
All females, and some males, develop into phase "F" prior to the first breeding season. The dorsum is dark brown to reddish and has round or oblong orange spots; the ventrum is greyish white. There is variation within this phase; sometimes the light spots are large, sometimes they are very small and numerous. In some Cameroonian specimens the dorsum is uniform brown to reddish and there are black dots on the sides and ventrum.

Male advertisement call is a rapid succession of pure, low-pitched notes that have a soft tonal quality.

Distribution

Geography

Continents

Africa

Countries

Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo

Biogeographical realms

Afrotropical

The species is found, from west to east, in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, and western Gabon. It probably occurs in mainland Equatorial Guinea, whereas the gap in Benin might be real.