Description
Pyxicephalus obbianus is a large ranid frog very similar to Pyxicephalus adspersus. P. obbianus adult specimens (larger than 90 mm) can be distinguished from P. adspersus by the size and placement of the tympanum. In P. obbianus, the tympanum is larger than the eye and lies very close to it. In P. adspersus, on the other hand, the tympanum is smaller than the eye and is separated from it by a distance larger than the tympanum itself.

P. obbianus adult specimens also generally seem to lack the vertebral light stripe found on most P. adspersus. According to Balletto et al. (1978), all the specimens of Pyxicephalus obbianus they examined that were larger then 23 mm (snout-urostyle) lacked the vertebral light stripe that was present in all of the specimens of Pyxicephalus adspersus that they examined but one. However, this cannot be used as a definite means of identification.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Somalia

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Pyxicephalus obbianus ranges from central to northern Somalia about 100km NW of Obbia, along the track Obbia-Galcaio, about 06°N-48°E; Obbia; El Bur; Gardo; Las Aer; about 70 km SE of Galcaio, along the track Obbia-Galcaio, about 06°20’N-47°50’E. It inhabits savannahs and other semi-arid habitats within its range.

References

Balletto, E., Cherchi, M. A., and Lanza, B. (1978). ''On some amphibians collected by the late Prof. Guiseppe Scortecci in Somalia.'' Monitore Zoologico Italiano Supplemento, 11(9), 221-243.

Lanza, B (1981). ''A check-list of the Somali amphibians.'' Monitore Zoologico Italiano Supplemento, 15(10), 151-186.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2007 Pyxicephalus obbianus: Calabresi's Bullfrog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/4968> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Jan 25, 2025.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2025. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 25 Jan 2025.

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