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| Litoria stellarum Richards, Johnston & Oliver, 2025 |
Abstract
We describe a new species of pelodryadid treefrog from a montane stream traversing karst terrain in the Star Mountains of western Papua New Guinea. Litoria stellarum sp. nov. is morphologically similar to L. becki (Loveridge, 1945), a species that is widespread in montane grassland habitats in central Papua New Guinea, but can be distinguished by its more angular snout and the presence of vocal slits in adult males (absent in L. becki). Based on its morphology and ecology we are confident the new species belongs to a monophyletic clade of torrent-breeding Litoria that reaches its greatest diversity in the rugged mountains of New Guinea’s Central Cordillera. Litoria stellarum sp. nov. is the second species in the radiation of torrent-breeding Litoria to be described from high-elevation karst habitats in Papua New Guinea, however in the absence of better ecological data it is not clear whether these species can be considered karst specialists. The single known locality for the species is in a restricted high elevation habitat suggesting it might be vulnerable to climate change. However, we suggest it should be considered Data Deficient until such time as its distribution and ecology can be better assessed.
Amphibia, alpine fernlands, Central Cordillera, frog, karst habitats, Litoria stellarum sp. nov., Strickland Divide, taxonomy
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| Images of Litoria stellarum sp. nov. in life: A) SAMA R71763 (holotype); B) SAMA R71762 (paratype); C) PNGNM (USNM [SJR]209376) (paratype). All photographs by S. Richards. |
Litoria stellarum sp. nov.
Etymology. stellarum is a latin genitive plural of Stella (star), meaning of the stars, referring to this species’only known locality high in Papua New Guinea’s Star Mountains.
Stephen J. RICHARDS, Gregory R. JOHNSTON and Paul M. OLIVER. 2025. A New montane Species of Stream-dwelling Treefrog (Pelodryadidae) from the Star Mountains, Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa. 5661(2); 221-236. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.4 [2025-07-15]
