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.体型普遍偏小且外部解剖结构相似，使得研究人员难以区分两个亲缘关系较远但常同域分布的非洲蛙超科蛙属物种：节蛙属（Arthroleptis，节蛙科Arthroleptidae）与短头蛙属（Phrynobatrachus，短头蛙科Phrynobatrachidae）。本研究定义了一套超越传统使用的第二性征范畴的外部形态特征，可用于精准区分成年节蛙属与短头蛙属物种。本文附有多组对比照片，展示各类形态特征的有无及变异情况，以辅助说明。两类蛙属的身体比例（头宽/吻肛长（snout–vent length））亦存在显著差异。尽管体型偏小的物种较难辨识，但节蛙属中吻肛长大于30毫米的较大物种，可凭借其相对更宽的头部与短头蛙属物种区分开来。本研究旨在为野外及馆藏标本研究人员提供一套启发式鉴定指南。