Taxonomic notes: This species has recently been moved from the genus Petropedetes to the new genus Odontobatrachus (Barej et al. 2014).

This species occurs in the hilly parts of West Africa in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, from near sea level up to 1,400m asl.
Using the range as a proxy, the extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 114,860 km².

Can we be more specific about its lower elevation? JAL Is there any information available regarding the AOO or number of threat-defined locations for this species? EJM

The species is found only in forested, hilly country. It lives in or near water and breeds in fast-flowing streams. The eggs are laid on land and the larvae attach themselves by means of suckers to rocks in waterfalls and rapids.

1) How do the larvae get from land to the waterfalls and rapids? 2) The Coded Habitats state that Montane forest is marginal habitat, but the Population narrative places the species up to 1400m without any caveats--we need more specifics. JAL

Although it is patchily distributed, it is very abundant where it occurs; for example on the Freetown Peninsula in Sierra Leone. However, it is believed to be in decline. The species was last seen in Guinea in 2011 (Kouamé pers. comm. May 2012).

Is this species believed to be in decline due to habitat loss or is another factor responsible? EJM

There are no reports of this species being utilized.

It is presumably threatened by the loss of forest habitat due to agricultural development, logging and expanding human settlements. In some places it is also adversely affected by mining activities, for example on the Simandou Range and on Mount Nimba.

Can the threats be confirmed? JAL

• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming
• 2.1.1 Shifting agriculture
• 3.2 Mining & quarrying
• 1.1 Housing & urban areas
• 5.3.5 Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded

It occurs in a few protected areas, including Mont Sangbe National Park in Côte d’Ivoire. More information is needed on this species' taxonomy, distribution, population status, natural history, and threats.

• 2.1 Site/area management

Listed as Near Threatened because the species depends on rainforest streams, which restricts its Area of Occupancy to approximately 2,000 km², and because the extent and quality of its habitat is declining, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable.

According to our records this species may not have been formally reassessed. The current assessment relies on an estimate of the AOO; it would make this a more robust assessment if this could be confirmed with reasoning. To qualify for the VU category, an estimate of the number of threat-defined locations or evidence that the population is severely fragmented (according to the Red List guidelines) is needed. EJM

• Barej, M.F., Schmitz, A., Günther, R., Loader, S.P., Mahlow, K. and Rödel, M.-O. 2014. The first endemic West African vertebrate family – a new anuran family highlighting the uniqueness of the Upper Guinean biodiversity hotspot. Frontiers in Zoology 11:8(8): 1-10, doi:10.1186/1742-9994-11-8.
• Perret, J.-L. 1984. Identification des syntypes de Petropedetes obscurus Ahl, 1924 (Amphibia, Phrynobatrachinae), conserves au Museum de Berlin. Bulletin de la Societe Neuchateloise des Sciences Naturelles: 167-170.
• Rödel, M.-O. 2003. The amphibians of Mont Sangbé National Park, Ivory Coast. Salamandra: 91-110.
• Rödel, M.-O. and Bangoura, M.A. 2004. A conservation assessment of amphibians in the Forêt Classée du Pic de Fon, Simandou Range, southeastern Republic of Guinea, with the description of a new Amnirana species (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae). Tropical Zoology: 201-232.
• Schiøtz, A. 1964. A preliminary list of amphibians collected in Ghana. Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening: 1-17.