Habitats and Morphometric Characteristics of the Economically Important Frog Hoplobatrachus occipitalis in the Savanna Region of Côte d'Ivoire: A Step towards its Wild Rearing
Kien Kouassi Brahiman *
Biological Sciences Training and Research Unit, Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University, BP 1328 Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.
Kanga Kouassi Philippe
Biological Sciences Training and Research Unit, Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University, BP 1328 Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.
Boguhé Gnonleba Franck Dit Hervis
Biosciences Training and Research Unit, Félix-Houphouët-Boigny University, 22 BP 582 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Aka Sesseho Guy Roger
Biological Sciences Training and Research Unit, Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University, BP 1328 Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.
Kouamelan Essetchi Paul
Biosciences Training and Research Unit, Félix-Houphouët-Boigny University, 22 BP 582 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Hoplobatrachus occipitalis is the most widely consumed edible frog in several West African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, where increasing demand and intensive harvesting have contributed to declines in wild populations. Despite its ecological importance as both a bioindicator and a natural controller of agricultural pests, limited information exists on its biology and ecology in northern Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting the need for region-specific studies to support sustainable management and conservation.
Aims: This research aims to describe habits and some morphometric aspects of the common frog (Hoplobatrachus occipitalis) captured in the wild of Korhogo.
Study Design: Qualitative field survey.
Place and Duration of Study: Frog specimens were collected monthly for 12 months, at a rate of 48 hours per site per month, from April 2024 to March 2025 in the lowlands, lakes, rice paddies, rivers, wells, and gardens of urban and peri-urban areas in the municipality of Korhogo, in northern Côte d'Ivoire.
Methodology: The methodology consisted of recording, for each Hoplobatrachus occipitalis specimen identified from fishermen, the average weight, total length, snout-vent length, and head length and width. The ANOVA test was used to characterize the differences between these different values according to site and sex. Direct field observations have allowed for the characterization of frog habitats.
Results: The wetlands constituting the habitats of Hoplobatrachus occipitalis identified in this study are wells, lakes, rivers, rice paddies and lowland. A total of 2749 specimens were analyzed in this study. Lakes (25.29%) present the high frequency of Hoplobatrachus occipitalis occurrences. These are followed by rice paddies (23.87%), wells (22.70%), rivers (15.05%), and lowland areas (13.09%). The results of this study show against that Hoplobatrachus occipitalis specimens living in rivers and lowlands areas had significantly lower total weights and lengths (p<0.05) than those inhabiting lakes, rice paddies, and wells. Snout-vent length measurements were also lower in rivers and lowlands areas than in wells, lakes, and rice paddies. The variation in parameters according to sex indicates that female Hopplobatrachus occipitalis were not significantly larger than male (p<0.05) in wells, rivers, and lowlands. These females were only larger than male (p<0.05) in lakes and rice paddies. The recorded Snout-to-Cloacus Length values showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in any habitat except rice paddies, where females exhibited significantly larger proportions (p<0.05) than males.
Conclusion: This database which presents the morphometric parameters of the Hoplobatrachus occipitalis frog in relation to different natural habitats, provides information to fisheries managers and frog farming volunteers to encourage them to consider raising it in the wild.
Keywords: Savanna locality, Halieutic resource, habitats, morphometric parameters, frogs