The Nigeria banana frog (Afrixalus nigeriensis) is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southeastern Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and western Nigeria; it appears to be missing from Togo and Benin.[1][2] Its natural habitat is primary rainforests, but it can also be found in a farm bush. The eggs are laid on vegetation, overhanging temporary ponds. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agricultural encroachment, expanding human settlements, and logging.[1] A high prevalence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the fungus causing chytridiomycosis, that has been associated with amphibian declines elsewhere, has been demonstrated in specimens collected from the Okomu National Park in Nigeria.[3]

Nigeria banana frog
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Afrixalus
Species:
A. nigeriensis
Binomial name
Afrixalus nigeriensis
Schiøtz, 1963

Habitat

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The Nigeria banana frogs natural habitats are forests and wetlands such as primary rainforests and regenerating secondary forests in elevations up to 1,000 m down to 0 m. Breeding takes place on leaves over temporary ponds once hatched tadpoles will fall into the water and develop.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2017). "Afrixalus nigeriensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T56071A16814953. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T56071A16814953.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Afrixalus nigeriensis Schiøtz, 1963". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  3. ^ Imasuen, AA; Aisen, MSO; Weldon, C; Dalton, DL; Kotze. A; Du Preez, LH (2011). "Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Amphibian Populations of Okomu National Park, Nigeria" (PDF). Herpetological Review. 42 (3): 379–382. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  4. ^ "Nigeria Banana Frog". IUCN Red List. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2023.