List of Amphibians of Sudan
Husam Eldin E Abugabr1, Mohmed A Abd ElRahman2 and Zuheir N Mahmoud3*
1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Shendi, Sudan
2Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, University of Khordofan, Sudan
3Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan
Submission: April 18, 2023;Published: May 03, 2023
*Corresponding author: Zuheir N Mahmoud, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan, Email id: zuheirnm@hotmil.com
How to cite this article: Husam Eldin E A, Mohmed A Abd ElR, Zuheir N M. List of Amphibians of Sudan. Ecol Conserv Sci. 2023; 2(4): 555591 DOI:10.19080/ECOA.2023.02.555591
Abstract
Thirty-two amphibian species are of definite occurrence in Sudan and seven more species are of possible occurrence. Tomopterna milletihorsini from Jabal Al Dayer Biosphere Reserve was reported as a new record to Sudan. Vertebrae of fossils of Kababisha humarensis and Kababisha sudanensis were reported as two new species to science from the Cenomanian formations of Wadi Milk, northern Sudan. In addition, fossils of legless caecilians were found in the same formations.
Keywords: Sudan; Extent; Extant; Amphibians
Introduction
Amphibians of the Sudan are poorly known, except for Sclerophyrus (=Bufo) regularis which is a dissection, parasitological and physiological model animal in laboratory classes and research. Even though, S. regularis is widely misclassified with other species such as Sclerophyrus maculatus and Sclerophyrus xeros. Therefore, deeper investigation into their taxonomy and diversity is required Abugabr [1], Barbour [2] found from Dr. H. C. Phillips collection from Sinnar Ptychadena (=Rana) mascareniensis, Phrynobatrachus natalensis and S. regularis. Schmidt [3] collected S. regularis and Ptychadena (Rana). mascareniensis from what is known as southern Sudan. Hoplobatrachus (=Dicrglossus) occipitalis were collected by Pike [4] from Khartoum and from Sinnar during this study. Mulleir [5] 2012) recorded Sclerophyrus (=Bufo) pentoni and Tomopterna kachowskii from the Red Sea Hills. Evans [6] collected fossil vertebrae and described Kababisha humarensis gen. et sp. Nov. and Kababisha sudanensis gen. et sp. Nov., Order Urodela, Suborder: Salamandroidea. They also collected but unidentified vertebrae belonging to frogs and Apoda. Rauhut [7] found in Wadi Al Milk amphibian fossils belonging to Gymnophiona indet., the Caudata K. humarensis, K. sudanensis and the anura indet. Thus confirming the findings of Evans [6], Rödel [8] related amphibians of the Sudan to the eastern region of Africa. The present work compiled a list of amphibians of Sudan based on field work collections as well as deskwork.
Material and Methods
Amphibians were collected by hand from the Nile, Khartoum, Geizera, Sinnar, West Kordofan States, Jebel Al Dayer Biosphere Reserve (JADBR) North Kordofan State and the Red Sea hills. Material were kept moist and either identified in the field or in the laboratory. Identification followed Rödel [8]. The authorities were accessed from Frost [9] as well as the valid scientific names.
Results and Discussion
Thirty amphibian’s species were recorded as definite occurrence (Table 1). In the table these were marked as (*) and seven species marked as (#) are possibly to be found in Sudan. Barbour [2] reported P. mascareniensis, P. natalensis and S. regularis (Figure 1) from Sinnar. Pike [4] collected H. occipitalis from Khartoum. During the present work S. regularis and H. occipitalis were collected from Sinnar, El Souki and Damazin along the Blue Nile. Abugabr [1] recorded S. xeros and S. maculatus from Shendi area on the eastern bank of the Nile. Both species (Figure 2 & 3) were reported from Jebel Al Dair Biosphere Reserve (JADBR) by Abd El-Rahman. Mulleir [5] recorded the shaata gardens toad (Sclerophyrus pentoni) and the sand frog Tomopterna kachowskii (Figure 4) from Arkawait, the Red Sea hills. The present work recorded Pyxicephalus cordofana from Al Muglad, west Kordofan. According to Frost [10] P. cordofana (Cordofan Frog) is endemic to Sudan. Recently, Abd El-Rahman [11] collected L. bocagii (Figure 5), S. pentoni, S. xeros, S. regularis, Hemisus marmoratus (Figure 6), Kassina senegalensis (Figure 7), Tomopterna milletihorsini (Figure 8), Hildebrantia ornate (Figure 9) and Ptychadena schillukorum (Figure 10) from JADBR. According to Abd El-Rahman [11] T. milletihorsini is a new record to Sudan. Some fossil amphibians were recorded from Sudan. Werner [12] reported from Wadi Al Milk frogs and gymnophionen (caecilians, Apoda). According to Werner and Gayet [13] these gymnophionens were the oldest ones reported from Gondwana. Evans [6]. collected vertebrate of frogs, Urodeala and Apoda from the Cenomanian formations (100.5 and 93.9 million years ago) of Wadi Milk. They also described two Sirenidae (salamander) K. humarensis and K. sudanensis. Werner and Gayet [13] stated that these salamanders are the earliest sirenids known outside North America. Pöllath [14] from the Holocene excavations in Wadi Howar reported a bone of an unidentified amphibian fossil. Sukova [15] found a fossil amphibian bone from Sabaloka (West Bank) during exploration of the site of Sphinx (SBK.W-60).
The study showed the presence of 11 families, 17 genera and 30 species of definite occurrence. The family Rhacophoridae is possibly represented by the Kekker’s foam-nest frog (Chiromantis kelleri). Diversity wise, Table 1 showed that Hyperoliidae has three genera and five species; Ptychadenidae has two genera and seven species followed by Bufonidae which is represented by one genus and six species. Each of the following families Arthrolepyidae and Dicroglossidae, and the possible occurrence of Microhylidae and Rhacophoridae, are represented by one species. Microhylidae with its 584 species, 61 genera and 11 subfamilies is the largest frog family in the world (AmphibiaWeb-Microhylidae, 2019). One of its members (Phrynomantis microps) is likely to occur in Sudan. Abugabr [1] managed to differentiate between S. regularis, S. xeros and S. maculatus using their proteinaceous and alkaloid/steroid components. This in line with Maciel [16] and Sciani [17] who found that secretions proved to be a useful tool in taxonomical and species identification. The study suggested execution of extensive field work to collect anurans, capture their photos using high resolution digital and camera traps, drone camera and automated sound recording. Classical and molecular approaches are to be used in classification of anurans.
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