 |
| Pyxicephalus beytelli du Preez, Netherlands, Rödel & Channing, 2024 |
ABSTRACT
Four species of African bullfrogs are currently recognised. We describe a new species from southern Africa, which can be distinguished on the basis of morphology, advertisement call and DNA sequences. Morphologically it differs from other bullfrogs by a combination of characteristics including a tympanum that is smaller or equal in size to the eye, and smaller in diameter than the space between eye and tympanum, presence of a white dot on the tympanum, longitudinal skin ridges with speckling between dorsal mottles, pale vertebral line usually present, absence of cream coloured lateral stripes, absence of a pale interorbital-bar, upper jaw-barring absent or faint. It has been confirmed from north-eastern Namibia, southern Angola and north-western Botswana. Three further undescribed species are recognised but not formally named, pending further investigation. We confirm the genetic distinctiveness of P. angusticeps.
KEYWORDS: 16S rRNA, tyrosinase exon 1, advertisement calls, Khaudum National Park, new species, Pyxicephalus beytelli sp. nov., taxonomy
 |
| (A) Male Holotype of Pyxicephalus beytelli, NMNW R11398. (B) Right foot. (C) Right hand. Scales both 10 mm. |
 |
| Colour pattern variation in Pyxicephalus beytelli: (A) male specimen from the Okavango, Botswana; (B) from Khaudum National Park, Namibia (Photos L du Preez). |
Pyxicephalus beytelli sp. nov.
Beytell's bullfrog
Diagnosis:
The new species is similar to all other species of bullfrogs in morphology and burrowing behaviour. We assign it to the genus Pyxicephalus based on the presence of teeth on the maxilla, two large sharp projections on the lower jaw, the inner metatarsal tubercle strongly flanged, no outer metatarsal tubercle, the outer metatarsals bound into the sole, and the presence of vomerine teeth, all characters that distinguish the genus Pyxicephalus from other pyxicephalids (Poynton Citation1964).
Pyxicephalus beytelli is a large frog, maximum SVL 208 mm. The large size distinguishes it from P. angusticeps (maximum SVL 78.7 mm), P. edulis (maximum SVL 103 mm) and P. sp 2. (maximum SVL 120 mm). It has strongly developed dorsal skin ridges, differing from the oval dorsal warts of P. angusticeps and P. obbianus. There is speckling between the dorsal mottles separating it from P. angusticeps and P. obbianus which ...
 |
| Pyxicephalus beytelli male. (A) Widely-spaced recurved teeth. (B) Open mouth showing teeth and odontoids. |
Etymology: We have the pleasure in naming this species for the late Mr Ben Beytell, Director of Parks and Wildlife Management in Namibia. He was instrumental in the proclamation of the Khaudum National Park, Namibia.
 |
| type locality of Pyxicephalus beytelli, Khaudum National Park, Namibia. |
Louis H du Preez, Edward C Netherlands, Mark-Oliver Rödel and Alan Channing. 2024. A New Bullfrog from southern Africa (Pyxicephalidae, Pyxicephalus Tschudi, 1838). African Journal of Herpetology. DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2023.2296654
