ANURAN SPECIES DIVERSITY IN OGBA COMMUNITY, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Abstract

Anuran diversity and abundance in Ogba community, Benin City, Nigeria was studied in five different sites between April and September 2011. Specimens were collected using the Visual Encounter and Acoustic survey methods. A total of 232 individuals belonging to four families, eight genera and twelve species were recorded. Species encountered included Afrixalus dorsalis, Amnirana albolabris, Arthroleptis poecilonatus, Bufo maculatus, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Hyperolius concolor, Leptopelis hyloides, Ptychadena bibroni, P. longirostris, P. mascareniensis, P. oxyrhynchus and P. pumilio. The most dominant species was Bufo maculatus (49.6 %) while Hyperolius concolor and Ptychadena longirostris were represented by one specimen each (0.43 %). Diversity was highest in the site with closed canopy (H=1.98) and least in the site with habitat alteration (H= 0.22) showing a positive correlation between amphibian diversity and forest cover. Conservation of our forests and amphibian habitats would help in conserving these little known amphibians which are on the verge of decline