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We describe a new species of Leptopelis from the L. modestus complex. The new species is described from forest and lacustrine habitats of the Albertine Rift of Central Africa, is superficially similar to topotypic L. modestus from Cameroon, but it is distinguished by advertisement call, morphology, and sequences of 16S, cyt b, and RAG1. The new species is yet another amphibian that occurs in the Itombwe Plateau, further solidifying the position of the plateau as an area of conservation concern.

A new species of squeaker frog (Arthroleptis) is described from Ngozi Crater in the Poroto Mountains of southwestern Tanzania. The holotype, and only specimen, was collected 80 years ago but remained undescribed because of past taxonomic confusion relating to large-bodied species of Arthroleptis from eastern Africa. Morphological study, including multivariate analysis of measurement data, indicates that this new species is distinguishable from other species of Arthroleptis, including large-bodied species such as Arthroleptis adolfifriederici, Arthroleptis affinis, Arthroleptis nikeae, Arthroleptis nguruensis, and Arthroleptis tanneri. The new species differs from other described species of Arthroleptis by the combination of its large body size, relatively long toes, and relatively small tympanum. The description of this new species further highlights the biological diversity of the Southern Rift Mountains.

We examined the systematics of two frequently confused Albertine Rift endemic treefrogs, Leptopelis karissimbensis and Leptopelis kivuensis. One mitochondrial (16S) and one nuclear (BDNF) gene were sequenced to demonstrate genetic differences between the two species. Although we did not find morphometric differences between the two taxa, several characters can be used to diagnose each species, including coloration (adult male throat), ventral pigmentation, presence/absence of a slight heel spur in large individuals, and male advertisement calls. The geographic distribution of each species is revised based on our new locality records and reconsideration of historical records from the literature. We recommend that L. karissimbensis be downgraded in conservation status to near threatened, because it does not meet the IUCN restricted geographic distribution criteria of an endangered species.

The previously unreported tadpole of Leptopelis karissimbensis, an endangered treefrog from Rwanda, is described. Tadpoles were collected, photographed, measured, and examined for standard metrics of tadpole morphology. Larvae of L. karissimbensis resemble other tadpoles in the genus Leptopelis in being muscular, elongate, and eel-like. The lateral tooth row formula for L. karissimbensis is 4/3. In late stage larvae, tadpoles of L. karissimbensis exhibit a prominent white spot below the eye. Larvae of this species were often abundant in suitable habitat at approximately 2,800 m in elevation. Larval habitat for L. karissimbensis includes seasonally flooded marshes, forest pools, and permanent ponds in the Virunga Mountains, the only known range of this species.