Hyperolius mitchelli
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| Hyperolius mitchelli | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hyperoliidae |
| Genus: | Hyperolius |
| Species: | H. mitchelli |
| Binomial name | |
| Hyperolius mitchelli | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Hyperolius puncticulatus mitchelli Loveridge, 1953[3] | |
Hyperolius mitchelli (common name: Mitchell's reed frog) is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the area between northeastern Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Malawi, and central Mozambique.[1][2][4][5]
Hyperolius mitchelli was first described as a subspecies of Hyperolius puncticulatus by Arthur Loveridge based on specimens collected from near "Fort Johnston, Nyasaland", corresponding to modern Mangochi, Malawi, in 1953.[3] In 1975 it was raised to full species status.[2] Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus from Kenya might be a subspecies of Hyperolius mitchelli.[6]
Etymology
Loveridge did not explain the etymology of the specific name mitchelli he chose for this species. However, the general introduction of the report in which the species was described makes many remarks to Mr. B. L. Mitchell,[3] a naturalist from the Nyasaland Game and Tsetse Department.[7] Mitchell had made significant collections in Nyasaland, the focal area of that report. Loveridge specifically thanks Mr. Mitchell for "furnishing [him] with local information regarding the amphibians".[3] In the same report, Loveridge also named Mitchell's flat lizard (Platysaurus mitchelli) after Mitchell.[7]