Revision of the little brown frogs in the Gephyromantis decaryi complex with description of a new species

Wollenberg, Katharina C.; Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel

Abstract

We revise the systematics of a group of little brown leaf litter frogs from Madagascar that are notoriously difficult to diagnose, the Gephyromantis decaryi complex. Using an integrative combination of molecular data, bioacoustics, and morphology, we reveal four divergent evolutionary lineages which all are monophyletic in the mitochondrial gene genealogies and have unique haplotypes in the nuclear RAG1 gene. We recognize three of these as distinct species and a fourth one as candidate species which requires additional study for final confirmation and description. The three species are (1) G. decaryi Angel, 1930, from Midongy and Ranomafana, characterized by relatively long limbs and continuous dorsal folds; (2) Gephyromantis verrucosus Angel, 1930 from Vondrozo and Manombo, herein removed from the synonymy of G. boulengeri, including the designation of a lectotype, characterized by irregular tubercles on the dorsum, and G. hintelmannae sp. nov. from Tsitolaka forest near Ambohitsara village and a second nearby site, characterized by a relatively smooth dorsum, short note duration in advertisement calls, and lack of light-dark pattern along the upper lip. A fourth lineage morphologically similar and phylogenetically placed sister to G. hintelmannae is characterized by the shortest note duration in calls of the complex but we consider the available data as insufficient to fully assess its status and propose to keep considering this lineage as candidate species Gephyromantis sp. 7 until more specimens and data become available. Copyright © 2012 Magnolia Press..

Citation

Wollenberg, K. C., Glaw, F., & Vences, M. (2012). Revision of the little brown frogs in the Gephyromantis decaryi complex with description of a new species. Zootaxa, 3421(1), 32-60. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3421.1.2

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 5, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Aug 14, 2012
• Publication Date: Aug 14, 2012
• Deposit Date: Jun 7, 2021
• Journal: Zootaxa
• Print ISSN: 1175-5334
• Publisher: Magnolia Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3421
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 32-60
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3421.1.2
• Keywords: Amphibia; Anura; Mantellidae; Gephyromantis; Gephyromantis decaryi; Gephyromantis verrucosus; Gephyromantis hintelmannae sp. nov.; LBF; Little brown frogs; Cryptic diversity; Madagascar
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3633804