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| Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) milingilingy
Bletz, Scherz, Rakotoarison, Lehtinen, Glaw & Vences, 2018
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We describe a new frog species of the genus Guibemantis, subgenus Pandanusicola, from Marojejy National Park in northeastern Madagascar. Guibemantis milingilingy, the new species, exhibits high genetic divergence from all other described species of Guibemantis based on DNA sequences of a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. This new species inhabits Pandanus plants like the majority of other members of this subgenus, but is found at much higher elevations (2026 m a.s.l.). It differs from its closest relative, G. punctatus, by the lack of speckled or spotted dorsal patterns and by the presence of a distinctly dark tympanum. As a high-elevation species, it is likely to be a species sensitive to climate change, similar to other montane endemics in Madagascar.
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Guibemantis milingilingy, new species, in life from the type locality.
(upper) male holotype, ZSM 429/2016
(ZCMV 15237); (middle), female paratype UADBA-A63759 (ZCMV 15230) or 63760 (ZCMV
15248); (lower) female paratype ZSM 430/2016 (ZCMV 15238).
Dwarfed Pandanus forest, habitat of Guibemantis milingilingy, new species.
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| Guibemantis milingilingy, new species, in life from the type locality, female paratype ZSM 430/2016 (ZCMV 15238). |
Guibemantis milingilingy new species
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Etymology.— The specific epithet is a Malagasy word meaning
‘‘being in an uncomfortable position,’’ in reference to the
precariousness of capturing specimens of this species, due to
the uneven and steep substrate on which their Pandanus
plants grow, which caused one of the authors to fall into such
a plant with great gusto. The name is used as an invariable
noun in apposition to the genus name.
Available names.— No junior synonyms are available as
potentially available names for any other Pandanus-dwelling
species of Guibemantis.
Molly C. Bletz, Mark D. Scherz, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Richard M. Lehtinen, Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences. 2018. Stumbling Upon A New Frog Species of Guibemantis (Anura: Mantellidae) on Top of the Marojejy Massif in Northern Madagascar. Copeia. 106(2); 255-263. DOI: 10.1643/CH-17-655
