Hyperolius nimbae Laurent 1958

A large Hyperolius (males 30-37 mm, females 34-38 mm). Phase J with hour-glass pattern. Ph. F greyish with black spots and specks. Dorsum shagreened or warty. Webbing extensive. Pupil horizontal. Belongs to a group together with H. tuberculatus and H. hutsebauti, occurring in clearings in the forest belt. Probably closely related to the savanna-living Hyperolius viridiflavus complex.A member of the H. viridiflavus complex. Sometimes regarded as a subspecies of H. tuberculatus.This species shows developmental changes in patterning, with two phases, J (juveniles and many mature males) and F (mature females and some mature males). All newly metamorphosed individuals are phase J, which is normally brownish to green with paired light dorsolateral lines, or an hourglass pattern. All females, and some males, develop into phase F before the first breeding season. Phase F is often colorful and variable, showing the diagnostic color characteristics for the species or subspecies. Either well-defined morphs may be present, or graded variation. This account was taken from "Treefrogs of Africa" by Arne Schiøtz with kind permission from Edition Chimaira (http://www.chimaira.de/) publishers, Frankfurt am Main.

From lowland forest clearings near Mt. Nimba. Known from only a few localities within a few miles of each other, where it is found calling from grass at the edges of large, probably temporary, swamps. The species is abundant and conspicuous here, so it is not likely it has been overlooked at other apparently suitable localities in West Africa.

Males call from grass at the edge of large swamps. The call is a fast series of clicks with a clear tonal quality, sounding like small bells. Calls were always heard in series, about 7 per second, never singly as in most other Hyperolius. The single call has a well-defined frequency-intensity maximum at about 2400 cps, and sounds very similar to the single call of Hyperolius viridiflavus.

Hyperolius nimbae, the Mount Nimba reed frog, is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, possibly Guinea, and possibly Liberia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, swamps, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

In 2010, this species was observed for the first time since 1967.