Hyperolius nitidulus Peters, 1875

(Fig. 4E)

COLLECTION MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 1 ♀ (SVL 24.1 mm), 2♂ (SVL 19-27.5 mm); Passoré province, Samba; 12.70144°N, – 2.40390°W; 290 m a.s.l.; 18.VII.1961; NA leg.; MNHNRA-2000.3113, 2000.3114, 1979.3724 • 4 ♂ (SVL 18.9-24 mm); Pabré; 12.51000°N, – 1.57953°W; 290 m a.s.l.; 1963; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHN-RA-2000.3115, 2000.3116, 2000.5609, 2000.5606.

FIELD MATERIAL. — Burkina Faso • 4 ♂ (SVL 27.3 -29.0 mm); Pabré dam, downstream of the dam; 12.51685°N, – 1.59687°W; 290 m a.s.l.; 11.VII.2017; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; on grasses; hand capture • 1 ♂ (SVL 29.4 mm); Loumbila dam; 12.49844°N, – 1.40311°W; 280 m a.s.l.; 14.VII.2017; same collectors as for preceding; on aquatic plants near a plantain field; hand capture • 8 ♂ (SVL 29.3 -32.0 mm); Koubri, “Ancien barrage”; 12.22878°N, – 1.34522°W; 290 m a.s.l.; 16.VII.2017; same collectors as for preceding; in a maize field near water body; hand capture • 1 ♂; Deux Balés National Park, downstream from Soumbou dam; 11.69833°N, – 2.79713°W; 260 m a.s.l.; 8.XI.2017; H.J. Ayoro leg.; on aquatic plants; acoustic report • 2♂ (SVL 23.2-24.9 mm); W National Park, near the Kabougou forest post office; 11.95738°N, 2.01381°E; 290 m a.s.l.; 20. VI.2018; same collector as for preceding; on shrubs; hand capture • 14 ♂ (SVL 25.7-28.4 mm), 1 ♀ (SVL 30.6 mm); Comoé-Léraba Forest, Sirigoué swampy valley; 9.88809°N, – 4.61954°W; 230 m a.s.l.; 2.VIII.2018; H. J. Ayoro & A. Ohler leg.; around a small pond; hand capture • 5 ♂ (SVL 26.8-28.4 mm); Comoé-Léraba Forest, Baboro swampy valley; 9.92522°N, – 4.57575°W; 240 m a.s.l.; 5.VIII.2018; same collectors as for preceding; in an untilled field; hand capture • 4 ♂ (SVL 25.5 -28.0 mm); near the Comoé River bridge; 9.93239°N, – 4.60655°W; 220 m. a.s.l; 5.VIII.2018; same collectors as for preceding; on aquatic plants in small stagnant waters on the trail; hand capture • 1 ♂ (SVL 26.2 mm); Folonzo village swampy valley; 9.88803°N, – 4.61969°W; 230 m a.s.l.; 6.VIII.2018; same collectors as for preceding; near a vegetable garden; hand capture • 5 ♂; Kou Forest; 11.18888°N, – 4.43944°W; 260 m a.s.l.; 7-9.VIII.2018; same collectors as for preceding; on shrubs and grasses around a water body; acoustic report • Ioba province, Bontioli reserve; 10.93682°N, – 3.13804°W; 260 m a.s.l.; J. Penner leg. • Dano; 11.16681°N, – 3.08870°W; 330 m a.s.l. and 11.16464°N, – 3.08633°W; 340 m a.s.l.; 2011; J. Penner leg.; field direct observation.

LITERATURE REPORTS. — Burkina Faso • Gourma province, Fada N’gourma; 12.06051°N, 0.34913°E; 300 m a.s.l. (Mohneke 2011) • Ganzourgou province, Mogtedo; 12.31844°N, – 0.83601°W; 280 m a.s.l. (Mohneke 2011) • Zorgho; 12.2483°N, – 0.6278°W; 300 m a.s.l.; I-III.2008 (Mohneke 2011).

DESCRIPTION. — 49 specimens examined.Size of vouchers (SVL 23.2- 31.3 for males and 28.8-30.9 mm for females) corresponding the values of Lampert (2001). In life, specimens with a yellowish back framed by dark lateral bands with narrow yellow edges, extending from the eyes back to above the legs (Fig. 4E). Sometimes, back showing a brown and greyish pattern with very small dark spots. Dorsal coloration lighter and with less contrasting pattern at night.

HABITAT. — Hyperolius nitidulus was found on grasses and bushes in floodplains, in swampy valleys and farmland such as maize and paddy fields, plantain plantations and vegetable gardens. It was also found on plants above water at nearby ponds and rivers. This species inhabits shrublands, grasslands and wetlands in the Guinean and Sudanian savannahs, from central Guinea to Cameroon (Lamotte 1967b; Rödel 2000; Rödel et al. 2010a).