As its name suggests, this frog is closely tied to the Boutry River and the surrounding habitats, making it a true endemic species—it doesn’t live anywhere else in the world. Its restricted range already makes it quite special, but it also stands out for the way it has adapted to life in its specific corner of West Africa.

Like other puddle frogs, the Boutry River frog is quite small, usually no bigger than a few centimeters, with a slender body and long legs that help it dart quickly between patches of water and vegetation. Its coloration is generally earthy—shades of brown, olive, or gray—helping it blend into the muddy riverbanks and leaf litter where it hides. This camouflage is its best defense against predators like birds, snakes, or fish. Despite its tiny size, the Boutry River frog plays an important role in its ecosystem, keeping insect populations in check while also serving as a food source for larger animals.

While many Phrynobatrachus species are widespread and adaptable, this one has a very narrow distribution, depending on the river and its nearby habitats for survival. Seasonal rains trigger its breeding, when males gather near shallow pools and call out to attract females. Eggs are laid in the water, and the tadpoles develop quickly to take advantage of the temporary aquatic conditions before water levels drop.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Benin

2016

Presence Uncertain

Cameroon

2016

Central Af. Rep.

2016

Côte D’ivoire

2016

DR Congo (Kinshasa)

2016

Presence Uncertain

Equatorial Guinea

2016

Bioko

Gambia

2016

Presence Uncertain

Ghana

2016

Guinea-Bissau

2016

Presence Uncertain

Guinea

2016

Liberia

2016

Mali

2016

Presence Uncertain

Nigeria

2016

Senegal

2016

Sierra Leone

2016

Presence Uncertain

Togo

2016