Taxonomic notes: Section empty

This species is known from northwestern and southeastern Liberia, southwestern and southeastern Côte d'Ivoire, and from southwestern Ghana. The species is found in lowland forest between 500 and 1,000 m. It is possible that the species is more widely distributed, as the forested areas between the known western and eastern parts of Côte d' Ivoire are not too well surveyed (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012).
Using the range as a proxy, the extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 71,690 km².

Is there any information available regarding the AOO or number of threat-defined locations for this species? EJM

It is a species of primary forest, and it can also be found in secondary forest, because of forest degradation (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012). It deposits eggs on dried-up puddles just before the rains, and the larvae develop in very small puddles.

It used to be considered to be a common species within the suitable habitat, but is now quite rare (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012). The population might be declining as this species relies on good forest and there is much logging going on (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012).

There are no reports of this species being utilized.

It is adversely affected by the loss of forest habitat for agriculture (cacao and rubber plantations), logging, and human settlement (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012). Fires for agriculture (clearing of land) are an additional threat to the species. All of these threats seem to occur throughout its range.

• 5.3.5 Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded
• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming
• 1.1 Housing & urban areas
• 7.1.1 Increase in fire frequency/intensity

It occurs in several protected areas including Taï National Park, Haute Dodo and Cavally Classified Forests, Yaya Classified forest in Côte d'Ivoire (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012), and Kakoum National Park in Ghana. In Liberia it occurs in North Lorma, Gola and Grebo National Forests (Hillers and Rödel 2007). Research on the life history (data is still lacking on the reproduction of this species), and on how the threats impact on this species.

• 2.1 Site/area management

listed as Vulnerable because, although the species is still reasonably widely distributed, it is dependent upon undisturbed habitat, and its Area of Occupancy within its range is therefore likely to be less than 2,000 km2 and decreasing due to habitat degradation.

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. 1959. Description d'un batracien nouveau de Cote d'Ivoire: Phrynobatrachus villiersi. Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle: 134-136.
• Perret, J.-L. 1988. Les especes de Phrynobatrachus (Anura, Ranidae) a eperon palpebral. Archives des Sciences Genève: 275-294.
• 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. 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., 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.