Taxonomic notes: This species is sometimes included in the genus Cardioglossa in the family Arthroleptidae, but it apparently belongs in the genus Phrynobatrachus in the family Petropeditidae (M.-O. Rödel pers. comm.).

This species is confined to the upper Guinea forest zone of West Africa in Sierra Leone, southern Guinea, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire and southwestern Ghana. It probably occurs up to at least 1,000 m asl, and perhaps even higher.
There are several sites in Côte d’Ivoire. It is likely that it is more widely distributed if more surveys are done (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012).
Using the range as a proxy, the extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 272,481 km².

Is there confirmation of the southwestern Nigeria record from Rӧdel et al, 2009? Is there any information available regarding this species' AOO or number of threat-defined locations? Also, is there more detailed information available about the elevation range of this species? EJM

It is a very common species in suitable habitats. It was last recorded in 2010 in Yaya Classified Forest. In the Banco area (before 2006), more than 100 individuals were recorded in a survey and it was generally very abundant. The current population is thought to be stable (it is found in primary and secondary forest) (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012).

It is found only in forest, mostly in primary but sometimes also in secondary forest with abundant leaf litter, and is usually associated with swampy areas. It is thought to breed in small forest streams and creeks, however the eggs have never been found (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012).

There are no reports of this species being utilized.

Water extraction and drainage for agriculture is the main threat to this species. Logging and cacao plantations are potential threats to its habitat (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012).

• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming
• 5.3.5 Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded
• 7.2.3 Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use)

It occurs in Taï National Park and Yaya Classified Forest (Côte d’Ivoire), the Mount Nimba World Heritage Site (Guinea, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire), Kakoum National Park (Ghana), and in several other protected areas. More research on its reproduction is needed.

• 2.1 Site/area management

Listed as Near Threatened since although this species is still relatively widely distributed, it depends on areas of reasonably undisturbed forest habitat, and so its Area of Occupancy is probably not much greater than 2,000 km2, and 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

• Guibé, J. and Lamotte, M. 1963. La reserve naturelle integrale du Mont Nimba. XXVIII. Batraciens du genre Phrynobatrachus. Memoires de l'Institution Fondamental d'Afrique Noire: 601-627.
• Rödel, M.-O. 2000. Les communautes d'amphibiens dans le Parc National de Tai, Cote d'Ivoire. Les anoures comme bio-indicateurs de l 'etat des habitats. Rapport de Centre Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique, Abidjan: 108-113.
• 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.
• Rödel, M.-O. and Branch, W.R. 2002. Herpetological survey of the Haute Dodo and Cavally forests, western Ivory Coast, Part I: Amphibians. Salamandra: 245-268.
• Rödel, M.-O. and Ernst, R. 2002. A new Phrynobatrachus from the Upper Guinean Rain Forest, West Africa, including a description of a new reproductive mode for the genus. Journal of Herpetology: 561-571.
• Rödel, M.-O. and Ernst, R. 2003. The amphibians of Marahoué and Mont Péko National Parks, Ivory Coast. Herpetozoa: 23-39.
• Rödel, M.-O., C. O. Boateng, J. Penner, & A. Hillers. 2009. A new cryptic Phrynobatrachus species (Amphibia: Anura: Phrynobatrachidae) from Ghana, West Africa. Zootaxa: 52-62.
• Rödel, M.-O., Gil, M., Agyei, A.C., Leaché, A.D., Diaz, R.E., Fujita, M.K. and Ernst, R. 2005. The amphibians of the forested parts of south-western Ghana. Salamandra: 107-127.
• Schiøtz, A. 1964. A preliminary list of amphibians collected in Ghana. Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening: 1-17.
• Schiøtz, A. 1964. The voices of some West African amphibians. Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening: 35-83.