Oungbe et al., J. Appl. Biosci. 2018 Systematic inventory of anuran species (amphibians) in three agro- industrial zones in the Southeast of Cote d’Ivoire. Journal of Applied Biosciences 131: 13271 - 13283 ISSN 1997-5902 Systematic inventory of anuran species (amphibians) in three agro-industrial zones in the Southeast of Cote d’Ivoire OUNGBE Kary Venance 1* , ADEBA Patrick Joël 2, BLAHOUA Kassi Georges 1, N’DOUBA Valentin 1 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Félix Houphoüet-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. 2 Centre Suisse de Recherche Scientifique, 01 BP 1303 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire * Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected] (225) 07 38 21 14 / 02 66 02 76 Original submitted in on 20 th June 2018. Published online at www.m.elewa.org on 30th November 2018 https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jab.v131i1.3 ABSTRACT Objective : The aim of this study was to make a systematic inventory of Anuran species in three agro- industrial zones of South-East Côte d'Ivoire, with a view to making a contribution to the knowledge of amphibians in Côte d’Ivoire. Method and Results : Anurans were captured using catch boxes and dip nets. Species identification was done using the determination keys proposed by Rödel (2000a) and Frétey et al. (2011). Twenty-eight (28) species belonging to 12 genus and 10 families have been inventoried.The family Ptychadenidae is the most diversified with 6 species. They are followed by Hyperoliidae and Phrynobatrachidae both having 5 species each. Arthroleptidae and Bufonidae contain 4 species and 3 species respectively. Dicroglossidae, Hemisotidae, Pipidae, Pyxicephaliidae and Ranidae are the least diversified with one (1) species each. Three unidentified species have also been inventoried: Artroleptis sp, Sclerophrys sp and Phrynobatrachus sp. It appears also 6 species are common to all the three plantations while 1, 4 and 8 species are specific to coconut plantation, palm plantations and banana plantations respectively. Conclusion and application : This study has made it possible to make a qualitative inventory of the Anura in three Agro-industrial zones of the South-eastern Côte d’Ivoire. These results will serve as a reference for further investigations of the amphibians and the development of appropriate measures to ensure better protection and sustainable exploitation of Anuras in Côte d’Ivoire. Keywords : Anurans, qualitative inventory, diagnosis, agro-industrial zone, Côte d’Ivoire. INTRODUCTION Anuran are the most diversified Amphibians or Le Gouyader, 2006). These animals are of Batrachians in the world (Lecointre and Le paramount importance to humans in both food and Guyader, 2006). They are grouped into 55 families economic terms (Channing, 2001). In terms of divided into 451 genus and making a total of 6968 food, some species of Anurans are a very good species (www.amphibiaweb.org, 2018). They are source of animal protein. As a result, they have a toads, frogs and tree frogs. They live a double life. very important commercial value (Neveu 2004, They live in water on one hand and on the other Nzigidahera 2005). In Côte d'Ivoire, the species hand on land, that is terrestrial life (Lecointre and Hoplobatrachus occipitalis constitute a source of 13271 Oungbe et al., J. Appl. Biosci. 2018 Systematic inventory of anuran species (amphibians) in three agro- industrial zones in the Southeast of Cote d’Ivoire. protein that is highly valued to certain population of investigation on the batrachofauna in these areas Western Côte d’Ivoire, especially the Yacouba, is necessary. This will elaborate adequate Guéré and Wobe (Blé et al., 2016). There thighs measures to ensure a better protection and a are sold in several areas namely markets, durable exploitation of Anurans. In Côte d'Ivoire, restaurants and even supermarkets. In addition, several surveys have been carried out on the Anurans arouse a fundamental interest to farmers diversity of the Anuran population. Most of these because of their diet. They consume invertebrates surveys have been carried out in protected areas in general and insects in particular (Konan et al ., (Rödel and Spieler 2000, Rödel 2000b, Rödel and 2016), which makes them, organisms likely to Branch 2002, Rödel 2003, Rödel and Ernest 2003, reduce the rates of insects’ known to be destroyers Rödel and Ernest 2004, and Adeba et al., 2010). In of plantations and thereby participate in the the south-east of Côte d'Ivoire, studies on the increase of farm yields (Channing, 2001). biodiversity of Anuran population have been Moreover, Anurans are not absolved from the undertaken in primary tropical moist forests, in this harmful effects of agricultural practices. The use of case the Banco National Park (Assemian et al., Pesticide is a common practice that negatively 2006), the marshes forest Tanoé-Ehy (Kpan et al., affects Anuran population (Bridges and Semlitsch 2014) and a village forest in Yakassé-Mé (Kouamé 2000, Semlitsch 2000). These farming practices et al., 2014). Studies of the batrachofauna in modify the habitats, the species richness and the agricultural and urban areas (Kouamé et al., 2015) feeding habits of these animals by not giving them remain very rare or non-existent. The present the opportunity to choose and feed on their study aimed at making the first systematic prefered prey (Hoyos-Hoyos et al., 2012, Menin et inventory of Anuran in three agro-industrial zones al., 2015). In the face of these threats, an of South-East Côte d'Ivoire. MATERIAL AND METHODS Study Area : This study was conducted in three large hours with the same hunting efforts. The method used plantations in south-eastern Côte d 'Ivoire (Figure 1). for sampling was the visual collection method (Rödel These are the coconut plantations in Grand-Bassam (5 and Ernest, 2004). The team consisted of two or three ° 12'N, 3 ° 45'W), the palm tree plantations in people, walked in the plantation without following a Toumanguié / N'Zikro (5 ° 23'N, 3 ° 24'W) and the specific direction and captured with the help of Banana plantations in Akressi (5 ° 41'N; 3 ° 05'W). The catching-box and scoop net, Anouran alive and visible study area is located between 5 ° 10 'and 5 ° 50' north in a given site. This method was used both during latitude and 3 ° and 3 ° 50 'west longitude. The choice daytime sampling (6h to 8h) and evening sampling (19h of sites was made due to accessibility, availability and to 21h). This time schedule has been described by especially the presence of a wetland (pond) in each Tohé et al. (2008) because during this period of the plantation. The coconut groves in Grand-Bassam are day, the Anuras croaking activity is intense and the characterized by the presence of water in a temporary daylight brightness is low. During the evening sampling way whereas the palm plantations in Toumanguié and a flashlight was used to enable locating the animals. the banana plantations in Akressi are characterized by The Anuras, dazzled by the light beam of the torch the presence of water permanently. were immobilized and thus captured easily alive. The Anuran sampling and identification : Anuran captured animals were identified using Rödel's sampling was conducted monthly from November 2016 determination keys (2000a) and Frétey et al. (2011) and to October 2017 with a frequency of two days in each information such as: Sex and snout-vent length (SVL) plantation. The duration of this hunting activity was two were recorded for each individual animal. 13272 Oungbe et al., J. Appl. Biosci. 2018 Systematic inventory of anuran species (amphibians) in three agro- industrial zones in the Southeast of Cote d’Ivoire. Figure 1 : location of the different agro-industrial zones sampled ST 1 : Coconut Plantation ; ST 2 : Palm Plantation ; ST 3 : Banana Plantation RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Inventory : The results of the qualitative Anuran number of Anuran species (28 species) is not inventory in three agro-industrial zones in South-East exhaustive given that not all the areas of the different Côte d'Ivoire are presented in a condensed form in plantations were sampled and only one sampling Table 1. A total of 28 species divided into 12 genus method "visual sampling method" was used for the belonging to 10 families were recorded in all sampled systematic inventory of Anurans. However, compared areas. The most diversified family is Ptychadenidae to the Banco National Park with 28 species (Assemian with 6 species. They are followed by Hyperoliidae and et al., 2006) and a village forest of Yakassé-Mé with 24 Phrynobatrachidae both having 5 species each. species (Kouamé et al ., 2014), the number of species Arthroleptidae and Bufonidae comprising respectively 4 found in this study is considerable (Anuran species species and 3 species. Dicroglossidae, Hemisotidae, inventoried in the South East of Côte d'Ivoire). In the Pipidae, Pyxicephaliidae and Ranidae are the least coconut plantation in Grand-Bassam 10 species, in the diversified with one (1) species each. Three unidentified palm groves in Toumanguié 18 species and in the species have also been inventoried: Artroleptis sp, banana plantations in Akressi 20 species have been Sclerophrys sp and Phrynobatrachus sp . The total listed. In view of these results, it appears that six 13273 Oungbe et al., J. Appl. Biosci. 2018 Systematic inventory of anuran species (amphibians) in three agro- industrial zones in the Southeast of Cote d’Ivoire. species ( Sclerophrys maculatus, Hoplobatrachus and eight spécies (Leptopelis macrotis, Sclerophrys sp, occipitalis, Afrixalus dorsalis, Hyperolius concolor, Afrixalius vittiger, Hyperolius fusciventris burtoni, Ptychadena mascareniensis, P. pumilio) are common to Phrynobatrachus liberiensis, Ptychadena bibrioni, all the three plantations while (Phrynobatrachus Aubria subsigillata, Amnirana albolabris) are specific to calcaratus ), four spécies (Arthroleptis poecilonotus, coconut plantation, palm plantations and banana Arthroleptis sp, Leptopelis viridis, Hemisus marmoratus ) plantations respectively.