The IUCN Red List (2009) categorizes this species as Least Concern in view of its relatively wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category (Largen et al., 2004).

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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It occurs in the Bale Mountains National Park in Ethiopia, and probably in several other protected areas (Largen et al., 2004).

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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It is likely to be impacted by habitat degradation, especially as a result of agricultural expansion, human settlement and overgrazing by livestock (Largen et al., 2004).

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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It is endemic to Ethiopia on both sides of the Rift Valley, widely distributed in the central and southern parts of the country. It may occur in Somalia.

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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It is found amongst herbaceous vegetation or rocks at the swampy margins of lakes, rivers, streams and temporary pools in both moist grassland and forest clearings. It breeds in lake edges, rivers, streams and pools. It is generally found at 1,300-2,800m asl, possibly down to 800m asl (Largen et al., 2004).

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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It is quite common in Ethiopia wherever suitable habitat is found.

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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Phrynobatrachus inexpectatus is one of the smallest species (SVL < 17 mm) of puddle frogs, characterized by 3.75-4 digits free of web on toe IV, lack of digital discs, and spinules present only occasionally on the chin. Adult males exhibit dark grey throats and femoral glands.

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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Warts present on dorsum, most often on the upper flanks, posterior back and hindlimbs. Scapular glands forming an X-shaped pattern. Tympanum is indistinct with a triangular streak overlying it. Nostril is situated closer to the snout tip than the eye. Webbing is rudimentary or absent. Digit tips may be swollen but not expanded into discs defined by circummarginal grooves. Adult males exhibit femoral glands situated posteroventrally on the distal half of each thigh. Gular skin does not normally form a U-shaped pouch; lateral and posterior portions are ill-defined or absent. Dorsum is brown, often with a pale vertebral line or broad mid-dorsal stripe present. A dark triangle may be present immediately behind a pale interorbital bar. Upper lip occasionally barred, and lower jaw regularly patterned with bands.  A pale streak or row of spots may extend from below the eye towards the forelimb. Throat coloration of females characterized by uniformly distributed melanophores, creating a mottled or vermiculated appearance. Gular region in males dark grey in color, scattered with pale warts. The breast and abdomen are cream or white with clustered spots (Largen, 2001)

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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Phrynobatrachus inexpectatus is a miniature (snout–vent length < 17 mm) puddle frog species. Snout-vent length varies from 13-16 mm in males, and 15-17 mm in females (Largen, 2001).

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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It is morphologically most similar to other small-sized East African species of puddle frogs, including P. kakamikro, P. keniensis, P. kinangopensis, P. mababiensis, P. minutus, P. pallidus,  P. parvulus, P. rungwensis, P. scheffleri, P. ukingensis, P. ungujae and P. uzungwensis. This species is smaller than the sympatric P. minutus, and adult males of the latter species have bright yellow throats in life, appearing light in color in preservation. It is also appreciably smaller than P. keniensis, P. kinangopensis, and P. scheffleri. P. scapularis is similar in size and webbing but exhibits a pale strip on the back of the thigh. Both P. rouxi and P. ukingensis exhibit weak digital discs, and the former has more extensize webbing with 3 phalanges free on toe IV and 2 phalanges free on toe V (Grandison and Howell, 1984). P. kinangopensis, P. perpalmatus, and P. rouxi are of similar size but display digital discs and a visible tympanum (both absent in this species). In addition, the foot of P. kinangopensis and P. perpalmatus exhibits extensive webbing. P. pallidus,  P. rungwensis, P. ukingensis, P. ungujae and P. uzungwensis share similar snout-vent lengths with P. inexpectatus and exhbit an indistinct tympanum, but differ through presence of well developed digital discs (versus absence in P. inexpectatus). In addition, P. uzungwensis exhibits extensive pedal webbing (vesus rudimentary webbing in P. inexpectatus). P. breviceps, P. keniensis, and P. stewartae exhibit more extensive pedal webbing (at maximum two and a half phalanges of fourth toe free of webbing).

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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Mitochodrial sequence data from 12S rRNA, valine-tRNA, and 16S rRNA fragment, as well as combined sequence data from mitochondrial and nuclear (RAG-1) genes indicate that P. minutus is the sister species of P. inexpectatus, and this clade in turn is sister to P. scheffleri (Zimkus, 2010).

Author: Zimkus, Breda

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