Data from: Distinguishing features of the sub-Saharan frog genera Arthroleptis and Phrynobatrachus: a short guide for field and museum researchers

Typically small body size and similar external anatomy have made it difficult for researchers to distinguish between species of two distantly related, but often sympatric, African ranoid frog genera: Arthroleptis (Arthroleptidae) and Phrynobatrachus (Phrynobatrachidae). We define a suite of external morphological characters, extending beyond the traditionally used secondary sexual characteristics, that can be used to definitively distinguish between adult Arthroleptis and Phrynobatrachus. Photographs comparing absence, presence, and variation of morphological characters are included for clarification. Significant differences between body proportions (head width/snout–vent length) are also observed between these genera. Although smaller species might be more difficult to identify, larger species (> 30 mm snout–vent length) of Arthroleptis can be distinguished from Phrynobatrachus because of their relatively wider heads. We intend this to serve as a heuristic guide for both field- and museum-based researchers.由于体型普遍偏小且外部解剖结构高度相似，科研人员难以对两个亲缘关系疏远但常同域分布的非洲蛙超科蛙类（ranoid frog）属进行物种区分：节蛙属（Arthroleptis，隶属于节蛙科Arthroleptidae）与旋褶蛙属（Phrynobatrachus，隶属于旋褶蛙科Phrynobatrachidae）。本研究确立了一套外部形态特征体系，突破了传统仅依赖第二性征的鉴定局限，可用于精准区分成年节蛙属与旋褶蛙属物种。为便于对照阐释，文中附有多组对比照片，展示了各类形态特征的存在、缺失及变异情况。两类蛙属的身体比例（头宽/吻肛长）亦存在显著差异。尽管体型偏小的物种较难鉴定，但体型大于30毫米吻肛长的节蛙属物种，可凭借其相对更宽的头部与旋褶蛙属相区分。本研究旨在为野外及馆藏标本研究者提供一套实用的启发式鉴定指南。