35 



Fig 29. Palmar view of hand (left) and plantar view of feet (right) of Hoplobalrachiis occipitalis 

 (MZUF 16466). 



Description 



Large frog. Head very broad with dorsal eyes. Tympanum 

 round with diameter about equal to horizontal diameter of eye. 

 Forelimbs short; third digit longest and second the shortest, 

 first and fourth digits subequal. One tubercle at base of each 

 finger. Distinct palmar tubercle on first finger. Large 

 hindlegs, with extensive webbing between and even outside toes. 

 One or more subarticular tubercles on each digit. Single, large 

 metatarsal tubercle. 



Pupil rhomboidal. Iris blackish golden with reddish dots. 

 Dorsum brilliant green or brownish. Flanks yellowish and belly 

 whitish. Lips yellow or red with green or black transverse 

 bars. Dorsum with irregular brownish or green spots outlined in 

 black; some scattered yellow spots. Black postocular stripe 

 from eye to corner of mouth. Venter spotted with greenish 

 brown . 



Variation 



Northern specimens are larger and paler. 



Ecology 



In North Africa, H. occipitalis is found in oases in 

 mountainous regions, where it lives in wells and cisterns. 

 Active by day and night. They feed on coleopterans and 



