[Herpetology • 2026] Amolops ammachi, A. bella & A. sendenyu • Systematics, Molecular Phylogeny, Diversification, and Biogeography of Cascade Frogs (Anura: Ranidae: Amolops) from India: An Integrative Assessment with Description of Three New Species

 

 the Amolops marmoratus group from India

A, B. Amolops afghanus. C. Amolops ammachi sp. nov.. D–F. A. assamensis. G–I. Amolops bella sp. nov.. J–M. A. gerbillus. N, O. A. indoburmanensis; 

A. Amolops indoburmanensis haplo 1. 

C. A. cf. indoburmanensis sp. 1.  E. A. jaunsari. 

F, A. nepalicus. H. Amolops sendenyu sp. nov. 

Biju, Ellepola, Sarmah, Upadhyaya, Bisht, Tajo, Hanken & Garg, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.3099/MCZ88.1

Photos: S. D. Biju.

 Abstract 

The Cascade Frog genus Amolops, currently comprising 95 described species, is a taxonomically challenging group of Asian frogs. Although the genus has been studied extensively across most of its range, the Indian members remain poorly understood, with sporadic species descriptions and no comprehensive taxonomic revision to date. Additionally, the current taxonomy of Amolops in India remains in flux; the true species diversity is potentially underestimated due to insufficient sampling efforts, misidentifications arising from limited investigations, and lack of a comprehensive comparative framework. In this study, we addressed these gaps through extensive sampling of Amolops across their range in India and by using an integrative morphological and molecular approach to investigate existing diversity. By using a multilocus data set of mitochondrial (16S, CO1, ND2) and nuclear (RAG1, TYR) markers, we present the first comprehensive Amolops phylogeny, including all known Indian species, which enables us to confidently establish species boundaries and infer evolutionary relationships. By assigning available names to well-supported lineages and testing multiple species-delimitation hypotheses, we identified a high level of undescribed cryptic diversity in the genus. Integrative analyses confirm three distinct unnamed lineages, which are formally described here as Amolops ammachi sp. nov., Amolops bella sp. nov., and Amolops sendenyu sp. nov. In addition, we report five new country records for India: three genetically conspecific with Amolops afghanus, Amolops nepalicus, and Amolops wangyali, and two shallowly divergent populations of A. medogensis and A. bellulus. Conversely, five nominal species do not represent distinct taxa and are here treated as junior subjective synonyms: Amolops chanakya synonym of Amolops wangyali; Amolops mahabharatensis synonym of Amolops jaunsari; Amolops senchalensis synonym of Amolops formosus; Amolops shillong synonym of Amolops assamensis; and Amolops terraorchis synonym of Amolops gerbillus. Molecular species delimitation reveals six additional candidate species from India; these lineages are left unnamed due to shallow divergence from established species and warrant further taxonomic investigation. Our time-calibrated phylogenetic analyses suggest that Amolops diversification began around the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, with a mean age of 31.5 Mya (median age: 32.5 Mya; 95% highest posterior density: 28.12–36.67 Mya). The most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of extant Amolops was widely distributed across Southeast China, mainland Southeast Asia, and the Malayan Peninsula during the early Oligocene. Through subsequent range contraction, subdivision, and jump dispersal, they spread into adjacent regions with dramatic rapid diversification toward the late Miocene. Biogeographic analyses suggest multiple waves of east-to-west colonization and highlight the role of early Himalayan uplift in mediating a complex “into-and-out-of-Himalaya” dynamic in structuring the contemporary distribution and high cryptic diversity in the genus. Mitochondrial haplotypes also show strong geographic structuring, indicating historical allopatric divergence by secondary contact among regions. These findings additionally improve our broader understanding of diversification and distribution patterns in this unique group.

KEYWORDS: Amphibia, Anura, cryptic diversity, evolutionary history, Integrative taxonomy, Himalayas, South and Southeast Asia, species delimitation, monticola Group, viridimaculatus Group, marmoratus Group, tadpole morphology

 

Dorsolateral views of species within the Amolops marmoratus group from India, in life.
A, B. A. afghanus (SDBDU 2023.6459 and SDBDU 2021.322, respectively). C. Amolops ammachi sp. nov. (ZSI A 16551). D–F. A. assamensis (SDBDU 2022.1100, SDBDU 2018.3843, and SDBDU 2025.6858, respectively). G–I. Amolops bella sp. nov. (SDBDU 2011.6959, SDBDU 2011.6913, and SDBDU 2011.6956, respectively). J–M. A. gerbillus (SDBDU 2024.6597, SDBDU 2024.6726, SDBDU 2021.1225, and SDBDU 2024.6598, respectively). N, O. A. indoburmanensis (SDBDU 2018.3870 and SDBDU 2022.5572, respectively). Photos: S. D. Biju.

Amolops ammachi sp. nov.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of the late Ms. Padmini Varkey, a renowned social worker and philanthropist from Kerala, India. She is fondly referred to as “Ammachi,” meaning “mother” in Malayalam, the language of Kerala. Her unconditional love and readiness to help those in need were widely admired. The species epithet ammachi is a tribute to her life and spirit; it is treated as an invariable noun in apposition to the generic name.

Suggested Common Name. Ammachi's Cascade Frog.

Amolops bella sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet bella is from the Latin word bellus, meaning beautiful, and referring to the beauty of the frog. The species epithet is considered an invariable noun in apposition.

Suggested Common Name. Beautiful Cascade Frog.

Dorsolateral views of species within the Amolops marmoratus group from India, in life.
 A. A. indoburmanensis haplo 1 (SDBDU 2024.6670). B. A. indoburmanensis haplo 2, (SDBDU 2021.4629). C. A. cf. indoburmanensis sp. 1 (SDBDU 2009.140). D, E. A. jaunsari (SDBDU 2012.6991 and SDBDU 2012.153, respectively). F, G. A. nepalicus (SDBDU 2026.6929 and SDBDU 2026.6928, respectively). H. Amolops sendenyu sp. nov. (SDBDU 2024.5438). I–K. A. siju (SDBDU 2023.457, SDBDU 2022.1468, and SDBDU 2025.6832, respectively). L. A. yarlungzangbo (SDBDU 2022.6141). Photos: S. D. Biju.

Amolops sendenyu sp. nov.

Etymology. The species is named after Sendenyu Village, Nagaland State, where the type series was collected. The species epithet is considered an invariable noun in apposition.

Suggested Common Name. Sendenyu Cascade Frog.

S. D. Biju, Gajaba Ellepola, A. N. Dikshit Akalabya Sarmah, Radhakrishna Upadhyaya, Karan Bisht, Tage Tajo, James Hanken and Sonali Garg. 2026. Systematics, Molecular Phylogeny, Diversification, and Biogeography of Cascade Frogs (Ranidae: Amolops) from India: An Integrative Assessment with Description of Three New Species. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 164(1); 1-144. DOI: doi.org/10.3099/MCZ88.1 (11 August 2026)

 

[Herpetology • 2026] Boulenophrys calciphila • A New Species of Boulenophrys Fei, Ye & Jiang, 2016 (Anura: Megophryidae) from Karst Landscapes in northern Guangdong, China

 

Boulenophrys calciphila Zeng, Wang, Qi, Song, Lyu & Wang,

in Zeng, J. Wang, Qi, Song, Cai, Zhu, Lin, Li, Zhou, H.-C. Yang, Lyu, Y.-P. Yang et Y.-Y. Wang. 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.39.e202590

Abstract

Karst landscapes across southern China represent global hotspots for vertebrate diversity and endemism, yet amphibian diversity within such habitats remains insufficiently documented. Herein, we describe Boulenophrys calciphila sp. nov., a new species discovered from fragmented karst hills in northern Guangdong Province, China, extending the documented habitat spectrum of the genus in Guangdong to limestone karst terrain. Detailed morphological comparisons coupled with phylogenetic analyses validate its taxonomic distinctness from all known congeners. This new discovery aligns with ongoing records of range-restricted anuran species uncovered from southern Chinese karst formations, reinforcing karst ecosystems as important reservoirs of amphibian diversity. Our results demonstrate that amphibian diversity within poorly-explored karst regions of northern Guangdong is substantially underestimated and call for focused conservation actions to safeguard these microendemic taxa and their unique evolutionary lineages.

Key Words: Boulenophrys calciphila sp. nov., conservation priority, karst habitat, micro-endemism, taxonomy

Life aspect of Boulenophrys calciphila sp. nov.
 the male holotype (GEP a596): lateral view (A1), dorsal view (A2), ventral view (A3), ventral view of hand (A4), ventral view of foot (A5);
and the female paratype (GEP a594): lateral view (B1), dorsal view (B2), ventral view (B3), ventral view of hand (B4), ventral view of foot (B5).

Photo by Zhao-Chi Zeng.

Boulenophrys calciphila Zeng, Wang, Qi, Song, Lyu & Wang, sp. nov.

 

Common name. Limestone Horned Toad (in English) 

 huī yán jiǎo chán (灰岩角蟾 in Chinese).

Diagnosis. (1) Moderate size (SVL 49.7–52.7 mm in two adult males, 56.3–59.2 mm in five adult females); (2) snout rounded in dorsal view, canthus rostralis well developed, tongue not notched distally; (3) tympanum distinct; (4) vomerine ridges present, vomerine teeth absent; (5) dorsal skin smooth with sparse granules, discontinuous X-shaped ridge on centre of dorsum, discontinuous dorsolateral ridges present, sparse large tubercles on flanks, dorsal limbs with discontinuous transverse ridges and tubercles; (6) outer margin of upper eyelid with a prominent horn-like ...

Etymology. The specific epithet calciphila combines the Latin calx, genitive calcis (limestone) with the Greek φίλος (phílos) (= loving), in reference to the association of this species with limestone karst habitats.

 Zhao-Chi Zeng, Jian Wang, Shuo Qi, Han-Ming Song, Yao-Yu Cai, Yun-Sheng Zhu, Shi-Shi Lin, Yuan-Hang Li, Dan-Yang Zhou, Hao-Cong Yang, Zhi-Tong Lyu, Yi-Ping Yang and Ying-Yong Wang. 2026. A New Species of Boulenophrys Fei, Ye & Jiang, 2016 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Karst Landscapes in northern Guangdong, China. Herpetozoa. 39: 291-302. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.39.e202590 [12-08-2026]

[Herpetology • 2026] Niceforonia tempestuosa • A New Species of Niceforonia (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Serranía de los Paraguas, Colombia, with the Description of A New phenotypic synapomorphy for the Niceforonia nigrovittata species group

[A-D] Niceforonia tempestuosa 

Ospina-Sarria, Rodríguez-Betancourt, Gómez-Sepúlveda, Morales-Vertel, Vélez-Franco, Gallego-Posada, Herrera-Rengifo, Grajales Escobar, Ceballos-Castro, García-Gómez, Velásquez-Trujillo, Ortiz Baez & Mendez Narvaez, 2026

and [F, H] N. mantipus (Boulenger, 1908)

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1289.198411

Abstract

A new species of Niceforonia is described from the montane cloud forests of southwestern Colombia. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by possessing dorsolateral folds, a visible tympanic membrane, a fleshy lip swelling in adult males, nuptial pads, circumferential grooves on all fingers, a reddish-brown to grayish dorsal coloration, yellow ventral and hidden surfaces, and dark supra-inguinal spots. Molecularly, the new species differs from all congeners by an uncorrected p-distance of > 7% for the 16S rRNA gene fragment. Furthermore, the possession of dark supra-inguinal spots optimizes unambiguously as a synapomorphy for two clades within Strabomantidae. The first clade comprises members of the genus Niceforonia and includes N. brunnea, N. dracula, N. elassodiscus, N. mantipus, N. nigrovittata, N. quilloturo, N. peraccai, four candidate species, and the new species described herein. This clade is referred to as the Niceforonia nigrovittata species group, diagnosed by the presence of dark supra-inguinal spots. By retaining this name, we ensure taxonomic stability and honor the well-established historical use of the nomenclature in literature. The second clade comprises members of the subfamily Holoadeninae, including the genera Bahius, Barycholos, Phyllonastes, and Urkuphryne. A previous study already proposed a phenotypic synapomorphy for the group composed of Phyllonastes + Barycholos. Consequently, the available evidence corroborates the monophyly of both the group comprising these four holoadenine genera and the Phyllonastes + Barycholos group. This congruence provides a robust, nested phylogenetic resolution and precise taxonomic diagnoses, demonstrating how the integration of molecular and phenotypic evidence is a powerful tool for testing evolutionary hypotheses in brachycephaloid frogs.

Key words: Brachycephaloid frogs, Cerro El Inglés, evolution, Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), taxonomy

Living specimens of Niceforonia tempestuosa and N. mantipus.
Dorsal and ventral views of adult males of Niceforonia tempestuosa. A, C. ARUQ-1885, SVL 24.5 mm; B, D. ARUQ-1882, SVL 23.8 mm
and N. mantipus; E, G. Specimen not collected; F, H. ARUQ-1881, SVL 23.5 mm.

Family: Strabomantidae Hedges, Duellman & Heinicke, 2008 

Genus: Niceforonia Goin & Cochran, 1963

Niceforonia tempestuosa sp. nov.

 

Proposed standard Spanish name. Rana de los bosques montanos nublados.

Proposed standard English name. Montane cloud forest frog.

Diagnosis. Niceforonia tempestuosa is diagnosed by the following combination of characters: (1) skin of dorsum smooth with scattered small warts; dorsolateral and \ /-shaped scapular folds present; venter smooth, discoidal fold absent; (2) tympanic membrane differentiated, upright-oval to round; its length 33.3–44.8% of eye length in six adult males and 47% in one adult female; prominent tympanic annulus, its upper edge covered by supratympanic fold, extending only just posterior to tympanic annulus; (3) snout subacuminate in dorsal view, rounded in profile; a fleshy swelling of lip in adult males; canthus rostralis straight; (4) upper eyelid bearing minute tubercles, narrower than IOD (62.0–85.1% IOD); interocular tubercle absent; cranial crest absent; (5) choanae small, ovoid; partially concealed by palatal shelf of maxillary arch; dentigerous ...

Etymology. The specific epithet is the feminine adjective tempestuosa (meaning “stormy”), derived from the Latin noun tempestas (meaning “storm” or “weather”). This name was chosen for local communities as a metaphor for the global climate emergency, referring to the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events—symbolized by the “storm”—which represent a growing threat to global biodiversity. The discovery of this new species in the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) Serranía de los Paraguas underscores the resilience of this biodiversity hotspot amidst the current climate crisis, safeguarded by the persistent efforts of local communities and biodiversity guardians.

Habitat of Niceforonia tempestuosa at the type locality. The habitat is characterized by the presence of large tree buttresses and stilt roots of Wettinia sp. palms, with the forest floor covered by abundant leaf litter.

 Jhon Jairo Ospina-Sarria, Andrés Felipe Rodríguez-Betancourt, Ximena Gómez-Sepúlveda, Iván Darío Morales-Vertel, Valentina Vélez-Franco, Nayely Gallego-Posada, Jose Daniel Herrera-Rengifo, John Edison Grajales Escobar, Irene Ceballos-Castro, Isabella García-Gómez, David Andrés Velásquez-Trujillo, Ayda Susana Ortiz Baez and Javier Mendez Narvaez. 2026. A New Species of Niceforonia (Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae) from the Serranía de los Paraguas, Colombia, with the Description of A New phenotypic synapomorphy for the Niceforonia nigrovittata species group. ZooKeys. 1289: 159-184. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1289.198411 [11-08-2026]

[Paleontology • 2026] Spea labreae • A New extinct Pleistocene Species of Spadefoot Toad (Anura: Scaphiopodidae) and comments on the Paleoecology and Paleobiogeography of Anurans from Rancho La Brea, California

Reconstruction of Spea labreae, (dark spadefoots, center) in La Brea Tar Pits compared with Spea hammondii (light spadefoot, left), the species currently present in the area, and the presence of the Mexican burrowing toad (Rhinophrynidae, bottom). 

 Cruz & Lindsey, 2026

 DOI: doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2026.2689465 

Artwork by Arturo Dávalos

ABSTRACT

Fossil amphibians hold great promise for paleoecological, paleoclimatological, and biogeographic studies because of their extreme sensitivity to environmental conditions. However, the study of fossil amphibians to date has been limited, because the fragility of frog, toad, and salamander skeletons means that diagnostic elements are rarely preserved in the fossil record. One unique locality that preserves a robust record of Quaternary amphibians is Rancho La Brea in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. Here, we describe the amphibian fauna from the Hancock Collection of Rancho La Brea, which contains fossils from ∼45,000 years before present through the Holocene. We document previously unrecognized taxa from this locality, including the Mexican burrowing toad Rhinophrynus sp. and a new species of spadefoot toad, Spea labreae, sp. nov. Using osteological comparison material, we calculate the size of this new species of Spea, which is larger than the extant species in this genus. We analyze the current distribution and fossil record of the genus Spea and the family Rhinophrynidae, documenting changes in geographic ranges of these taxa during the Quaternary. These changes likely resulted from the interplay of deglacial climate changes and topographic complexity in the American Southwest, and may help to predict amphibian responses to climate changes impacting the region today.

Class AMPHIBIA, Linnaeus, 1767

Order ANURA Rafinesque, 1815

Family SCAPHIOPODIDAE Cope, 1865

Genus SPEA Cope, 1866

SPEA LABREAE, sp. nov.

Etymology—The specific epithet refers to La Brea, Spanish for ‘the tar’ which gave rise to the name of Rancho La Brea, the locality where this species is found.

 

Locality, Horizon, and Age—Pit A, Rancho La Brea, Los Angeles, California, Late Pleistocene–Holocene.

 

Reconstruction of Spea labreae, (dark spadefoots, center and right) in La Brea Tar Pits compared with Spea hammondii (light spadefoot, left), the species currently present in the area, and the presence of the Mexican burrowing toad (Rhinophrynidae, bottom).

 Artwork by Arturo Dávalos.

 

J. Alberto Cruz and Emily L. Lindsey. 2026. A New extinct Pleistocene Species of Spadefoot Toad and comments on the Paleoecology and Paleobiogeography of Anurans from Rancho La Brea, California. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. e2689465. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2026.2689465 [04 Aug 2026]

[Herpetology • 2026] Gracixalus damingshanensis • A New Species of Gracixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Damingshan National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China

 

 Gracixalus damingshanensis 

Chen & Li, 2026  

大明山纤树蛙  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.186426 

 Photographs by Wei-Cai Chen.

Abstract

A new species of Gracixalus is described from central Guangxi, China. Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov. resembles G. jinxiuensis, G. huaping, and G. liusanjieae, but differs from all known congeners by a combination of morphological, molecular, and acoustic characters. Diagnostic characters include SVL 27.3–32.3 mm in males (n = 4) and 32.4–40.1 mm in females (n = 3); rough dorsal skin with scattered tubercles; grayish ventral surfaces with light brown spotting; fingers without webbing; white tubercles along the margins of the upper and lower jaws and on the limbs; absence of vomerine teeth; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye; granular skin on the throat, chest, and belly; heels not meeting when the thighs are held at right angles to the body; a distinct nuptial pad on Finger I; a single internal subgular vocal sac with paired oval openings bordered by gray rims; a golden-brown iris; and advertisement calls containing 2–5 notes. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences recovered the new species as a distinct lineage sister to the clade comprising G. jinxiuensis and G. huaping. The species is currently known only from evergreen and bamboo forests above 900 m a.s.l. in Damingshan National Nature Reserve.

Key Words: Bioacoustics, morphology, phylogeny, shrub frogs, taxonomy

 

Holotype (NNU202103010) of Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov.
 A. Dorsal view; B. Dorsolateral view; C. Ventral view; D. Ventral view of right hand; E. Nuptial pad on Finger I; F. Ventral view of left foot. Photographs by Wei-Cai Chen.

Color variation among paratypes of Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov. 
 A1, A2. Dorsal and ventral views of male NNU202103008;
B1, B2. Dorsal and ventral views of male NNU202103009;
C1, C2. Dorsal and ventral views of male NNU202103011;
D1, D2. Dorsal and ventral views of female NNU202103007.

 Photographs by Wei-Cai Chen.

Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov. 

Diagnosis. Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) SVL 27.3–32.3 mm in males (n = 4) and 32.4–40.1 mm in females (n = 3); (2) dorsal surface rough, with scattered tubercles; (3) throat, chest, and ventral surface grayish with light brown spotting; (4) fingers without webbing; (5) white tubercles along the margins of the upper and lower jaws and on limb surfaces; (6) vomerine teeth absent; (7) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye; (8) skin of throat, chest, and ...

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘damingshanensis’ refers to Damingshan National Nature Reserve in Nanning, Guangxi, China, where the species was discovered. We propose “Damingshan Tree Frog” as the English common name and “Dà Míng Shān Xiān Shù Wā“ (大明山纤树蛙) as the Chinese common name.

Wei-Cai Chen and Peng Li. 2026. A New Species of Gracixalus (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Damingshan National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 102(4): 989-1003. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.186426 

[Herpetology • 2026] Brachytarsophrys jinxiuensis • A New Species of the genus Brachytarsophrys Tian & Hu, 1983 (Anura: Megophryidae) from Guangxi, China

 

Brachytarsophrys jinxiuensis 

Liu, Hou & Rao, 2026

 azjournal.ru 

 Researchgate.net/publication/408625531

Abstract

A new species of the genus Brachytarsophrys is described from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of morphological characters: body size relatively small, dorsal skin smooth with a few large tubercles on dorsum and crotch, snout relatively long, eye relatively small, foot relatively short, pectoral glands orange, upper iris blood red and lower iris reddish brown, nuptial pad present on first finger in adult male. Phylogenetically, the new species differs from other species of the genus by a genetic divergence of 4.2–15.7% and 3.3–15.2% in COI and cytb genes, respectively. This study brings the total number of the species of Brachytarsophrys to 12, with ten occur in China and three in Guangxi.

Keywords: Brachytarsophrys, Jinxiu County, mitochondrial, morphology, new species, phylogeny, Short-Legged Toad, taxonomy

Holotype (KIZ2019035) of  Brachytarsophrys jinxiuensis sp. nov. in life.
(A) Dorsal view; (B) left view; (C) ventral view; (D) closeup view of the crotch region

Close-up views of the hand and foot of the holotype (KIZ2019035) of Brachytarsophrys jinxiuensis sp. nov. in preservative.
 (A) volar view of the left hand; (B) plantar view of the left foot

Brachytarsophrys jinxiuensis sp. nov. 


Shuo Liu, Mian Hou and Dingqi Rao. 2026. A New Species of the genus Brachytarsophrys Tian & Hu, 1983 (Anura: Megophryidae) from Guangxi, China. Amurian Zoological Journal. 18(2); 586–598. DOI: 10.33910/2686-9519-2026-18-2-586-598 [2026-07-08]

https://azjournal.ru/index.php/azjournal/article/view/2026-07-08

 Researchgate.net/publication/408625531_A_new_species_of_the_genus_Brachytarsophrys_from_Guangxi_China

[Herpetology • 2026] Pristimantis milpe • Long overdue: A New, widespread, species of Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Chocó region and the synonymy of Pristimantis subsigillatus

 Pristimantis milpe 

Ron, Paredes-Aguirre, Paucar, López, Apunte & Ortega, 2026 

 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1286.194383  

 x.com/santiak

Abstract

As currently defined, Pristimantis subsigillatus is a species of the P. lacrimosus species group distributed in the Chocó of Colombia and Ecuador, from lowlands to Andean foothill forests. Upon re-examination of the holotype of P. subsigillatus, we conclude that the populations currently ascribed to P. subsigillatus are not conspecific with the holotype. Instead, the holotype is conspecific with one of the syntypes of P. latidiscus, a species described four years before from a nearby locality. To avoid the ambiguity in the application of the binomen Hylodes latidiscus, we designate a lectotype. As a result, P. subsigillatus becomes a junior synonym of P. latidiscus. The misidentified populations represent an undescribed species which we describe based on morphological, bioacoustic, and genetic data as Pristimantis milpe sp. nov. The new species has one of the widest distributions among Chocoan Pristimantis and is unusual for having sexual dimorphism in coloration. It is most closely related to Pristimantis degener from which it diverged in the late Miocene and is morphologically distinct. The fact that such a common species remained “invisible” to taxonomy highlights the importance of correctly establishing the link between the name-bearing types and natural populations. Finally, we discuss how taxonomic treatments of Pristimantis during the second half of the 20th century often made this non-trivial error.

Key words: Andes, holotype, integrative taxonomy, lectotype, phylogeny, systematics

Pristimantis milpe sp. nov.

Common name. English: Milpe Rain Frog.
Spanish: Cutín de Milpe.

Diagnosis. We assign the new species to the genus Pristimantis based on the phylogeny (Fig. 5). Species of Pristimantis characterized by: (1) smooth to slightly tuberculate dorsal skin, areolate belly; discoidal fold evident; dorsolateral folds absent; (2) tympanum condition B; tympanic ring covered dorsally by supratympanic fold, tympanic membrane not differentiated; (3) truncate snout in dorsal view and protruding in lateral view; (4) upper eyelid generally without tubercles (occasionally one tiny tubercle present); (5) cranial crests absent; (6) oblique dentigerous processes of vomers; (7) vocal slits present, nuptial pads ...

Photographs showing color variation in living adult males of  Pristimantis milpe sp. nov.
 A. QCAZ-A 77106, holotype, SVL = 24.77 mm; B. QCAZ-A 76585, paratype, SVL = 26.97 mm; C. QCAZ-A 76518, paratype, SVL = 26.06 mm; D. QCAZ-A 65561, SVL = 19.64 mm; E. QCAZ-A 67428, SVL = 26.47 mm. Left column: dorsolateral view; central column: dorsal view; right column: ventral view. F. QCAZ-A 79899; note significant color change within a period of less than 24 h. Locality data for all specimens is provided in the holotype and paratypes sections.

Photographs showing color variation in living adult/subadult females of Pristimantis milpe sp. nov.
  A. QCAZ-A 67424, paratype, adult female, SVL = 32.07 mm; B. QCAZ-A 45268, paratype, subadult female, SVL = 29.44 mm; C. QCAZ-A 74171, paratype, adult female, SVL = 34.21 mm; D. QCAZ-A 74172, paratype, adult female, SVL = 34.17 mm; E. QCAZ-A 51314, adult female, SVL = 33.13 mm. Left column: dorsolateral view; central column: dorsal view; right column: ventral view. Locality data for all specimens is provided in the paratypes section.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality, the Milpe Bird Sanctuary, a private reserve in Pichincha Province, Ecuador. The sanctuary protects ~ 100 ha of Foothill Montane Forest and is part of the Andean Chocó, one of the most diverse and threatened regions on the planet. The Milpe Bird Sanctuary is managed by the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity in the Andean Chocó. The Foundation maintains close relationships with local communities, promoting environmental education, sustainable livelihoods, and participatory management of natural resources. It also supports other private reserves and local Decentralized Autonomous Governments in forest restoration through the production of native plants in their nurseries, strengthening long-term conservation in the region.

Santiago R. Ron, Poulette Paredes-Aguirre, Diego A. Paucar, Yaara López, Katherine Apunte and Jhael A. Ortega. 2026. Long overdue: A New, widespread, species of Pristimantis (Anura, Strabomantidae) from the Chocó region and the synonymy of Pristimantis subsigillatus. ZooKeys. 1286: 121-152. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1286.194383 [24 Jul 2026] 

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[Herpetology • 2026] Megophrys praestes • A Comprehensive Review of the Megophrys (Brachytarsophrys) carinensis group (Amphibia: Megophryidae) reveals A New giant horned frog from Indochina and Evidence for Taxonomic Inflation in the feae Group

  

Megophrys praestes

Mahony, Phimmachak, Seateun, Sivongxay, Hoang, Le, Streicher, Rowley & Stuart, 2026

 

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5854.1.1  

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Abstract

The Megophrys subgenus Brachytarsophrys includes the largest species of Asian horned frogs north of the Malay Peninsula. The subgenus comprises two clades known as the feae group and carinensis group. Though the Chinese members of the feae group have been the focus of recent taxonomic studies, little is known of the two members of the carinensis group, M. carinensis and M. intermedia, from Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Megophrys carinensis was long considered to be widespread in China until, relatively recently, some populations were found to represent species of the feae group, indicating that there is widespread confusion regarding the identification of M. carinensis. No sequence data have been available for M. carinensis and M. intermedia from their respective type localities to verify their genetic identities.

In this study, a near complete review of the global knowledge of the carinensis group is provided based on the literature, supplemented with multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analyses and a comprehensive morphological dataset for 35 adult specimens and five juveniles. Recently collected samples from 12 specimens of M. intermedia (including from the Langbiang Plateau) were sequenced, and a minimally destructive archival DNA Illumina protocol was used to obtain the complete mitochondrial genome for a 137-year-old ethanol preserved “topotype” of M. carinensis.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses identified two deeply divergent lineages in M. intermedia, one from the type locality of M. intermedia and a second representing all other previously sequenced populations of M. “intermedia” from outside the upper reaches of the Langbiang Plateau. The morphological data for adult frogs also strongly supported the recognition of two diagnosable taxa within M. intermedia sensu lato. Adults differed in morphometrics and qualitative characteristics, but the tadpoles differed slightly in morphometrics but not in any qualitative characteristics. Detailed taxonomic redescriptions are provided for both M. carinensis and M. intermedia, and a new species of Megophrys from the carinensis group is described. A comprehensive literature review of these three species is provided, identifications of populations are updated, and new information is given on behaviour and habitat association. A counter argument to the recent proposal to treat some of Malcolm Smith’s species epithets as nouns in apposition to the gender of the genus name is provided, clarifying the spelling of M. intermedia (and proposing to reject Alcalus pullus as the valid name for A. tasanae), and correcting the gender of M. carinensis and M. platyparieta. We highlight extensive misunderstandings in the literature regarding the identities of the type series of both M. carinensis and M. intermedia, and revise the geographic distributions of all species based on published and unpublished evidence (including online citizen science data).

Published records of M. “carinensis” from China, Laos, Vietnam, and India are individually reviewed to clarify the taxonomic identities of many of the populations. All Chinese and Vietnamese populations are suggested to represent feae group taxa, and we provide the most complete account of the distribution of this group. Fundamental errors are identified in the original descriptions of all recent feae group species (M. popei, M. orientalis, Megophrys guilinensis comb. nov., Megophrys qiannanensis comb. nov., Megophrys wenshanensis comb. nov., and Megophrys wui comb. nov.), surmising that there is currently insufficient evidence to morphologically diagnose the marginally genetically divergent named populations M. orientalis, M. guilinensis comb. nov. and M. wui comb. nov. as distinct from M. popei, and propose their synonymy. Beyond updates to the identification of populations resulting from this proposed synonymy, provisional updates are recommended for the identifications of more than 30 additional known Chinese populations.

Megophrys intermedia is now range-restricted to upper elevations on the Langbiang Plateau. Based on a review of the species’ extinction threat status, we recommend that it should potentially be considered Endangered, further highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive modern taxonomic redescriptions of historically described species in Southeast Asia.

Amphibia, Anura, Megophryinae, toad, taxonomy, systematics, nomenclature, literature review, natural history, phylogenetics, conservation, Endangered, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam

Megophrys praestes sp. nov. 

 

STEPHEN MAHONY, Somphouthone PHIMMACHAK, Sengvilay SEATEUN, Niane SIVONGXAY, Huy Duc HOANG, Duong Thi Thuy LE, Jeffrey W. STREICHER, Jodi J. L. ROWLEY and Bryan L. STUART. 2026. A Comprehensive Review of the Megophrys (Brachytarsophrys) carinensis group (Amphibia: Megophryidae) reveals A New giant horned frog from Indochina and Evidence for Taxonomic Inflation in the feae Group.  Zootaxa. 5854(1); 1-166. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5854.1.1 [2026-07-24] 

 facebook.com/JodiRowley/posts/10162722793400952

  

[Herpetology • 2026] Isthmohyla nacientes • A New Species of Stream-Breeding Isthmohyla (Anura: Hylidae) from Costa Rica

 

Isthmohyla nacientes  

Chaves-Acuña, Abarca, Navarro-Picado, Hidalgo-Mora, Ureña-Chaves, Valverde-Castillo, Chaves, Bolaños & Faivovich, 2026

   

DOI: doi.org/10.1643/h2024066 

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Abstract

We describe a new species of the Isthmohyla tica group that occurs along the montane regions of the central Pacific of Costa Rica, between 1,400 and 2,000 masl. Although the new species is the sister taxon of a clade including an unde-scribed species and I. rivularis, it is more similar to I. tica. However, the new species can be distinguished because the flanks have scattered, distinct, round and irregular dark blotches or spots and because the advertisement call is comprised by a single, tonal note, typically emitted singly or in series, at dominant frequencies of 4,048–4,909 Hz, with a duration of 10–50 ms. The new species exhibits a broad acoustic repertoire composed of advertisement, release, and courtship calls, with the latter being emitted underwater. We discuss our findings with respect to adult and larval morphology, reproductive biology, and bioacoustics of the I. tica group.

Isthmohyla nacientes in life.
 (A) Holotype (UCR 24345), dorsal coloration at night. (B) Lateral view of male paratype (UCR 24367). (C) Ventral view of male paratype (UCR 24367), showing orange coloration on the hidden and ventral surfaces of the thighs and shank. (D) Male paratype (UCR 23770) showing bilobate, translucent vocal sac. (E) Lateral view of female paratype (UCR 24368).

Photos: B, C, and E by Gabriel Ureña

Isthmohyla nacientes, new species  

 

Etymology.—The specific epithet “nacientes” refers to the crucial role of headwaters and springs (nacientes in Spanish) in the habitat and life cycle of the new species and its stream-breeding congeners. This name highlights the species’ association with aquatic environments, particularly the springs found in its range, acknowledging the ecological significance of these water sources.

Wagner Chaves-Acuña, Juan Abarca, Jonathan Navarro-Picado, Esteban Hidalgo-Mora, Marilyn Ureña-Chaves, Alejandro Valverde-Castillo, Gerardo Chaves, Federico Bolaños and Julián Faivovich. 2026. A New Species of Stream-Breeding Isthmohyla (Anura: Hylidae) from Costa Rica. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 114(2); 337-356. DOI: doi.org/10.1643/h2024066 (3 July 2026) x.com/IchsAndHerps/status/2076689784525717838

  

We describe a new species of the Isthmohyla tica group that occurs along the montane regions of the central Pacific of Costa Rica, between 1,400 and 2,000 masl. Although the new species is the sister taxon of a clade including an undescribed species and I. rivularis, it is more similar to I. tica. However, the new species can be distinguished because the flanks have scattered, distinct, round and irregular dark blotches or spots and because the advertisement call is comprised by a single, tonal note, typically emitted singly or in series, at dominant frequencies of 4,048–4,909 Hz, with a duration of 10–50 ms. The new species exhibits a broad acoustic repertoire composed of advertisement, release, and courtship calls, with the latter being emitted underwater. We discuss our findings with respect to adult and larval morphology, reproductive biology, and bioacoustics of the I. tica group.