 |
| Kenyaphrynoides vulcani Liedtke, Malonza, Wasonga, Müller & Loader, 2023 |
Abstract
Discoveries of new species can greatly impact our understanding of the biogeography of a region. For example, groups of amphibian lineages restricted to the Afrotemperate forests of Tanzania and Ethiopia are indicative of a shared biogeographical history of this highly discontinuous ecosystem. Curiously, many of these lineages are absent from the geographically intermediate Kenyan highlands. This phylogeographical interval is generally considered to be attributable to the younger, volcanic origins of much of the Kenyan highlands, and thus an amphibian fauna that is derived largely from recent colonization events rather than comprising older relicts. Contrasting with this view, here we report on the discovery of a single specimen of Bufonidae (true toad) from Mount Kenya. The specimen belongs to a species new to science and deserves recognition at the generic level owing to its notable molecular phylogenetic and morphological divergences from other described taxa. It is most closely related to the Tanzanian genera Churamiti and Nectophrynoides. The discovery of this new toad and its association with Afrotemperate species is significant because it links Kenya to the biogeographically more ancient Tanzanian mountains and supports the potential longevity of the Afrotemperate forests in Kenya. Broadly, it highlights that we are still adding major branches to the phylogeny of anurans.
biogeography, Eastern Arc Mountains, East Africa Rift, Afromontane, Amphibia, Bufonidae, micro-computed tomography
Kenyaphrynoides gen. nov.
Nectophrynoides sp. (Spawls et al. 2019: 15).
Bufonidae incertae sedis (Malonza and Bwong 2023: 516)
Type species: Kenyaphrynoides vulcani gen. et sp. nov.
Liedtke, Malonza, Wasonga, Müller and Loader by original designation.
Etymology: The generic name is derived from the words ‘Kenya’, a reference to the country and to the eponymous mountain, from which the name for the country was originally derived, and ‘phrynoides’, meaning toad-like. For nomenclatural purposes, we consider it to be neutral.
Mount Kenya forest toad
Diagnosis: Kenyaphrynoides can be distinguished from other bufonid genera by the combination of the following characters: lack of continuous parotoid glands (similar in Churamiti and different from some Nectophrynoides); eyelids lack glandular masses (glandular in Churamiti); lack of tympanum; forearms without a large glandular mass (present in Churamiti and some Nectophrynoides); spatulate toe tips (differently shaped in Churamiti and Nectophrynoides); toes with marginal webbing; toe tips without lamellae on ventral edge (present in Churamiti); nuptial spines on thumbs in males (similar to Nimbaphrynoides, absent in Churamiti and Nectophrynoides); distinct green/brown dorsal coloration and cream ventrum (somewhat similar in Churamiti, different in Nectophrynoides); eight presacral vertebrae (seven in Churamiti, eight in Nectophrynoides); tips of terminal phalanges broadly T-shaped, chisel-like (T-shaped with slender, curved crossbar in Churamiti, more knob-like or slightly T-shaped in Nectophrynoides); an unossified sternum (ossified in Churamiti, not ossified in Nectophrynoides); and lack of an ossified columella (absent in Churamiti, present in Nectophrynoides).
Distribution: Kenyaphrynoides is only known from Chogoria Forest Block on Mount Kenya.
Kenyaphrynoides vulcani sp. nov.
Etymology: The name vulcani is in reference to the more recent, volcanic origins of Mount Kenya, the only locality from which this species is known. The species name is a noun in the genitive form (‘of the volcano’).
Common name: Kenyan Volcano toad.
H Christoph Liedtke, Patrick K Malonza, Domnick V Wasonga, Hendrik Müller and Simon P Loader. 2023. A New Genus and Species of Toad from Mount Kenya illuminates East African Montane Biogeography. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. zlad160. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad160
phys.org/news/2023-11-kenyan-volcano-toad-species-reveals.html
