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| Gephyromantis ampondo Vences, Köhler, Scherz, Hutter, Rabe Maheritafika, Rafanoharana, Raherinjatovo, Rakotoarison, Andreone, Raselimanana & Glaw, 2024 |
The Gephyromantis moseri complex, classified in the mantellid subgenus Duboimantis, currently contains one species of frog, G. moseri (Glaw & Vences, 2002) from the Andasibe area in the Northern Central East of Madagascar, as well as several genetically divergent populations from the North East that have been provision -ally assigned to the species. We here analyse DNA sequences of one mitochondrial (16S rRNA) and one nuclear-encoded gene (RAG-1), morphology, and advertisement calls of newly collected material of this species complex from various localities in Madagascar. Based on this integrative evidence, in particular concordant nuclear gene differentiation between seven highly divergent (> 4 %) mitochondrial lineages, as well as differences in advertisement call structure, body size and head shape between some of these lineages, we conclude that the G. moseri complex contains several additional species of which four are formally named and described in this study: G. fuscus sp. nov., a rather small-sized species sister to G. moseri, occurring in two sites (Mahasoa and the western part of the Makira Reserve), G. makira sp. nov., a species known from only one available voucher specimen from eastern Makira, G. bemiray sp. nov. from eastern Makira, Masoala, and Ambolokopatrika; and G. ampondo sp. nov. from Marojejy in the North East. Two further lineages for which voucher specimens were not available in the framework of this study are considered unconfirmed candidate species G. sp. Ca19 and G. sp. Ca33,pending the collection of further material. The revision of the G. moseri complex adds to the diversity of Duboimantis and once more demonstrates the existence of secretive or genuinely rare restricted-range species among the Malagasy frogs whose inventory can only be completed by further fieldwork and integrative taxonomic research.
Gephyromantis ampondo
Gephyromantis bemiray
Gephyromantis fuscus
Gephyromantis makira
Vences M, Köhler J, Scherz MD, Hutter CR, Rabe Maheritafika HM, Rafanoharana JM, Raherinjatovo H, Rakotoarison A, Andreone F, Raselimanana AP, Glaw F. 2024. Four New Species of Forest-dwelling mantellid frogs from Madagascar allied to Gephyromantis moseri (Amphibia, Anura). Spixiana. 46: 297–319.
