 |
| Boophis samuelsabini Basham, Masotti, Jimenez, Razafitsimialona, Andrianatenaina, Rakotoarison, Glaw, Wright & Vences, 2026 |
Abstract
We describe a new species of treefrog of the Boophis goudotii group from Ivohiboro, a sacred forest in the Southeast of Madagascar and recently established protected area. Based on a molecular phylogeny inferred from DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, Boophis samuelsabini sp. n. is sister to the clade of B. madagascariensis and B. roseipalmatus but differs from these species by genetic distances of 4.8–6.3%. The new species has an advertisement call consisting of various note types similar to its closest relatives, B. madagascariensis and B. roseipalmatus, but is distinguished morphologically from them by smaller body size and presence of a pattern of reticulated dermal folds on the dorsum. This discovery highlights the poor state of exploration of remnant highland forests in the South East of Madagascar which can be expected to harbour additional microendemic species in need of conservation measures.
Key words. Amphibia, Anura, Mantellidae, Boophis samuelsabini sp. n., Ivohiboro, microendemism
 |
| Specimens of Boophis samuelsabini sp. n. in life: (A) paratype UADBA-FGZC 12501; (B) individual MA013 (not collected); (C) individual MA171 (not collected); (D) individual MA171 (not collected); (E) individual MA02 (not collected); (F) individual MA013 (not collected). |
 |
| Dorsolateral views of three male paratypes, and dorsal and ventral views of one of these paratypes of Boophis samuelsabini sp. n. in life (specimens still uncatalogued and therefore here referenced with their field numbers; will be deposited in ZSM and UADBA). |
Boophis samuelsabini sp. n.
Diagnosis: The new species differs from all described species in the B. goudotii group by strong genetic differentiation, with pairwise 16S divergence of 5.1–6.3% to all the other species of the group. It further differs from B. goudotii, B. obscurus and B. periegetes by presence of distinct dermal flaps on heels (vs. absence) and from B. goudotii, B. periegetes and syntopic B. obscurus by smaller body size (male SVL as far as known < 40 mm vs. > 50 mm; B. obscurus from some other sites, e.g. Isalo, are smaller but still > 42 mm); from B. axelmeyeri, B. boehmei, B. quasiboehmei, B. popi, and B. rufioculis by absence of red pigment in the iris (vs. presence), and furthermore from B. boehmei and B. quasiboehmei by reticulated dorsum (vs. smooth) and larger body size (male SVL > 31 mm vs. ...
Etymology: The species name is a patronym honoring Samuel Sabin, son of Andrew Sabin, in recognition of the Sabin family’s support for research and conservation of Madagascar’s herpetofauna. Grammatically, the epithet is the genitive singular of a second-declension masculine noun.
Basham, E. W., M. D. Masotti, B. O. Jimenez, D. Razafitsimialona, G. M. Andrianatenaina, A. Rakotoarison, F. Glaw, P. C. Wright and M. Vences. 2026. New Species of Treefrog of the Boophis goudotii group from the isolated Ivohiboro Protected Area in south-eastern Madagascar. SALAMANDRA. 62(1); 42–52.
