[Herpetology • 2026] Arcovomer moqueca & A. ubatuba • Unveiling Cryptic Diversity in the Genus Arcovomer (Anura: Microhylidae): Description of Two New Species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

(C–F) Arcovomer moqueca sp. n. from Aracruz (type locality), state of Espírito Santo;
(G–H) A. ubatuba sp. n. from Ubatuba (type locality), state of São Paulo 

Andrade, Lyra, & Toledo, 2026  

SALAMANDRA. 62(2); 

Note the differences in color patterns among individuals, with the dorsum and limbs ranging from light grey to dark brown.

Abstract

 The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the world’s most threatened biodiversity hotspots, harbouring high levels of species richness and endemism, including more than 700 amphibian species. Although considerable progress has been made in describing this diversity, new species continue to be formally recognized each year, and many lineages remain poorly studied. Here, we use an integrative approach combining molecular, morphometric, and bioacoustic data to reassess species diversity within the frog genus Arcovomer (Anura, Microhylidae), long regarded as monotypic. Our results reveal the presence of three deeply divergent lineages within the genus Arcovomer. One corresponds to A. passarellii, the type species from the state of Rio de Janeiro, while the other two represent distinct lineages from the states of Espírito Santo and São Paulo, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers recovered Arcovomer as a strongly supported clade, and morphometric and acoustic evidence combined with molecular data support the distinctiveness of these lineages, leading to the description of two new species. These species are geographically structured across distinct ecoregions of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, highlighting the conservation relevance of recognizing independently evolving, range-restricted taxa. By revealing previously overlooked diversity within this genus, this study highlights the importance of integrative taxonomy, long-term specimen curation, and sound archives for documenting and conserving biodiversity within one of the world’s most threatened biomes. 

Key words. Amphibia, genetic divergence, bioacoustics, endemism, integrative taxonomy, biological collections.

Variation in coloration in life among three species of Arcovomer:
 A. passarellii (ZUEC-AMP 26936) from Rio das Ostras, state of Rio de Janeiro (A–B);
A. moqueca sp. n. from Aracruz (type locality), state of Espírito Santo (C–F);
A. ubatuba sp. n. from Ubatuba (type locality), state of São Paulo (G–H).

Note the differences in color patterns among individuals, with the dorsum and limbs ranging from light grey to dark brown.

Arcovomer moqueca sp. n.

Diagnosis: Assigned to the genus Arcovomer based on phylogenetic evidence and the presence of an arched vomer, a diagnostic osteologic synapomorphy of the genus sensu Carvalho (1954). This species is phenotypically cryptic in relation to A. passarellii.

Etymology: The specific name is a noun in apposition, derived from the African Bantu language, Kimbundu,  'mu’keka', meaning fish stew, or from the indigenous Tupi, 'pokeka' and 'moquem', meaning wrapped and grilled respectively. The word 'moqueca' subsequently emerged from the Portuguese. It is a Brazilian seafood stew, traditional from the state of Espírito Santo, and declared as a cultural asset, intangible heritage, of the state (Brazil 2015, Law No. 10.463). It honors the state of Espírito Santo, celebrating its traditions, peoples, cultural diversity, and rich culinary heritage. 

Arcovomer ubatuba sp. n. 

Diagnosis: Placed in the genus Arcovomer based on phylogenetic position. Externally cryptic relative to A. passarellii and A. moqueca sp. n., A. ubatuba sp. n. is reliably differentiated only through an integrative approach combining morphology, bioacoustics, and genetics.

Etymology: The specific epithet 'ubatuba' honours the municipality of Ubatuba, state of São Paulo, Brazil, where this species was first collected and which is its type locality. The name is derived from the indigenous Tupi language, 'uba' meaning “place” and 'tuba' meaning “canoes”, referring to the traditional gathering point of canoes during the Tamoio Confederation. The epithet is treated as a noun in apposition. This name relates to the species type locality and evokes the cultural and historical heritage of the people from Atlantic Forest coastal region. 

Felipe Silva de Andrade, Mariana L. Lyra, Délio Baêta & Luís Felipe Toledo. 2026. Unveiling Cryptic Diversity in the Genus Arcovomer (Anura: Microhylidae): description of Two New Species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. SALAMANDRA. 62(2); 77–96. [2026-05-15]

[Herpetology • 2025] Kalophrynus minutus • A New Kalophrynus Species (Anura: Microhylidae) from Sabah, Malaysia [Composition and Distribution of Frogs in Crocker Range Park, Sabah, Malaysia]

Kalophrynus minutus Imbun, Fui Lian, Lakim & Majuakim,

in Imbun, Tan, Lakim et Majuakim. 2025.  

 DOI: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e157470 

Abstract

Background: We monitored five localities within Crocker Range Park, one of the protected forests administered by Sabah Parks in the Malaysian part of Borneo. The sites selected were at various elevations: lowland sites at 260 m and 499 m a.s.l.; montane sites at 1,216 m, 1,260 m and 1,477 m a.s.l. Forty species were encountered in this study. New discoveries were also found during the course of our three-year period survey (October 2003–October 2006).

New information: The discoveries include amongst others, the Sabah endemics of Meristogenys, two new records for Sabah: Sarawakiphrys dringi (Inger, Stuebing and Tan, 1995), and Pelophryne rhopophilia Inger and Stuebing, 1996, as well as a new species, Kalophrynus minutus sp. nov., described herein. These findings provide evidence of many unknown species still waiting to be discovered. These discoveries also add significantly to our understanding of the distribution of frog species in Borneo as a whole, showing that species formerly thought to be very restricted geographically actually have much greater and more extensive distributions within Borneo.

Keywords: frogs, Kalophrynus, distribution, tropical, protected forest, Crocker Range, Borneo

Colouration and dorsolateral pattern of the type specimen (SP26180) of Kalophrynus minutus sp. nov. in life.
A a large, round, black ocellus is visible in the inguinal region; B–C show a thick X-shaped pattern over the shoulders and a dorsolateral row of white tubercles with black edging. Photographs: Paul Imbun.

Kalophrynus minutus Imbun, Fui Lian, Lakim & Majuakim, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: A small species of Kalophrynus, adults < 25 mm; fourth finger with a single subarticular tubercle, free portion of fourth finger less than length of terminal phalanx of third finger; fifth toe shorter than third; a large black inguinal ocellus.

Etymology: The specific epithet is taken from the Latin adjective minutus for small, in reference to the new species having the smallest maximum body size in the genus Kalophrynus.

 Paul Imbun, Tan Fui Lian, Maklarin Lakim and Luiza Majuakim. 2025. Composition and Distribution of Frogs in Crocker Range Park, Sabah, Malaysia, with A Description of A New Kalophrynus (Anura, Microhylidae) Species. Biodiversity Data Journal. 13: e157470. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e157470 

[Herpetology • 2025] Microhyla roedderi • A New Species of Microhyla (Anura: Microhylidae), with an extended description of Microhyla nanapollexa from Vietnam

Microhyla roedderi 

 Hoang, Pham, Nguyen, Phan, Ziegler, Orlov, Jiang  & Do, 2025 

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5566.2.6 

  Researchgate.net/publication/387824484

 instagram.com/thomas_ziegler_work_group

 

Abstract

Based on morphological and molecular evidences, we describe a new species of Microhyla (Nanohyla) from Deo Ca Mountain in Vietnam. The new species differs from congeners by high genetic divergences in 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA sequences (9.31–11.28 %), surpassing known genetic distances between other recognized species of the subgenus Nanohyla. The new species revealed to be sister to M. nanapollexa from Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. Based on new findings of the latter species, including the first known males, we provide an extended diagnosis of M. nanapollexa including the first record from Kon Tum Province, Vietnam.

Amphibia, Microhyla roedderi sp. nov., Deo Ca Mountain, khanh hoa, Phu yen, morphology, molecular phylogeny, taxonomy

Microhyla roedderi sp. nov.

Chung Van HOANG, Cuong The PHAM, Truong Quang NGUYEN, Tien Quang PHAN, Thomas ZIEGLER, Nikolai ORLOV, Jianping JIANG and Dang Trong DO. 2025. A New Species of Microhyla (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae), with an extended description of Microhyla nanapollexa from Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 5566(2); 347-369. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5566.2.6

  instagram.com/p/DEkHlcMs7za/?img_index=1thomas_ziegler_work_group

  Researchgate.net/publication/387824484_A_new_species_of_Microhyla_from_Vietnam

New species: Roedder’s Narrow-mouth frog (Microhyla roedderi)

https://www.d-roedder.de/2025/01/09/new-species-roedders-narrow-mouth-frog-microhyla-roedderi

[Herpetology • 2025] A Preliminary Assessment of the Diversity in the Frog Genus Anilany (Anura: Microhylidae: Cophylinae) with Description of Anilany karsticola, A New Species from western Madagascar

 

Anilany karsticola

Petzold, Glaw, Mullin, Rakotoarison, Raselimanana, Crottini, Orozco-terWengel, Köhler, Prötzel, Vences, Hofreiter & Scherz, 2025 

SALAMANDRA. 61(1) 

www.MarkScherz.com

Abstract

 The cophyline microhylid frog genus Anilany was established as a monotypic genus in 2016 for the miniaturised species Anilany helenae (Vallan, 2000), from the type locality Ambohitantely, a patch of rainforest surrounded by savannah in central Madagascar. Fieldwork conducted over the past two decades identified three unexpected populations from Bemaraha, Mahajanga, and Beanka from limestone caves near sea level in arid western and northwestern Madagascar, which were assigned to the genus Anilany based on diagnostic morphological features. We generated new data for specimens of the Ambohitantely, Bemaraha, and Mahajanga populations to test if all three populations belong to one or multiple species, studying their genetic variability based on mitochondrial (16S rRNA, COI) and nuclear (BDNF, RAG-1) genes, as well as morphological and osteological data. We identify several previously unknown diagnostic characters of the skeleton of Anilany compared to its closest relatives, Rhombophryne and Stumpffia, but no skeletal features that can be used to reliably distinguish among Anilany populations. Based on concordant genetic and morphological differences, we formally describe the population from the limestone karsts of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, formerly considered candidate species Anilany sp. Ca14, as a new species, Anilany karsticola sp. n. It can be distinguished from other Anilany lineages by larger size and shorter relative tibia length, uncorrected p-distances in DNA sequences of the 16S gene amounting to 2.6% and a lack of allele sharing in the analysed fragments of the nuclear genes BDNF and RAG-1. More data, especially advertisement call recordings and additional specimens, are required from other locations for a more thorough assessment of the genus and the distribution of its species.

Key words. Amphibia, Anura, Anilany karsticola sp. n., citizen science, iNaturalist, molecular genetics, morphology, osteo­logy, systematics.

Anilany karsticola sp. n. from Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in life:
(a, b) adult female holotype ZSM 21/2006 (FGZC 711) in dorsolateral (a) and ventral (b) views;
(c, d) paratype ZSM 22/2006 (FGZC 712) in dorsolateral (c) and ventral (d) views;
(e–g) paratype UADBA-A 25660 (FGZC 713) in dorsolateral (e) and ventral (f) views, with a closeup of the hand (g) illustrating expanded digits only present on fingers 3 and 4;
(h, i) paratype UADBA-A 25663 (FGZC 714) in dorsolateral (h) and ventral (i) views.

Anilany karsticola sp. n. 

Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Anilany on the basis of its small size combined with expanded terminal discs and T-shaped terminal phalanges, short parasphenoid, broad, angled postchoanal vomers, absence of a neopalatine, and close genetic afnities with A. helenae. It can be distinguished from populations of its only described congener, A. helenae, by larger adult body size (adult SVL 15.7–17.4 mm vs. 13.8–15.0 mm Ambohitantely and 12.7 mm Mahajanga) and relative shorter tibia length (TIBL/SVL 0.42–0.46 vs. 0.48 Ambohitantely and 0.47– 0.50 Mahajanga). Furthermore, A. karsticola sp. n. is distinguished from all other genetic lineages of Anilany by the ... 

Etymology: The species epithet karsticola is a first-declension noun derived from the German word ‘Karst’ (a craggy limestone formation), and the Latin lexical suffix ‘-cola’ meaning ‘inhabitor’, in refection of ecology of this species, which has only been found in and near caves in limestone karst within the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. The species name is considered as a noun in apposition.

Anilany cf. helenae specimens from Anjajavy:
(a) a putatively adult specimen in dorsolateral view showing contrasting chevron patterning dorsally, and visible expansion of terminal finger discs, typical of this genus. This specimen was observed in dry coastal forest (b); (c) an adult specimen in posterodorsolateral view, showing the dark dorsal chevron and expanded finger discs. Tis specimen was observed in a cave (d), above which was forest like that shown in (b).

Photographs by Justin Gerlach

Petzold, A., F. Glaw, K. E. Mullin, A. Rakotoarison, A. P. Raselimanana, A. Crottini, P. Orozco-terWengel, J. Köhler, D. Prötzel, M. Vences, M. Hofreiter and M. D. Scherz. 2025. A Preliminary Assessment of the Diversity in the Frog Genus Anilany (Microhylidae: Cophylinae) with Description of A New Species from western Madagascar. SALAMANDRA. 61(1); 70-94. 

http://www.MarkScherz.com/archives/6117

[Herpetology • 2016] Reconciling Molecular Phylogeny, Morphological Divergence and Classification of Madagascan Narrow-mouthed Frogs (Amphibia: Microhylidae)

(A) Stumpffia tetradactyla (Nosy Boraha); (B) Anilany helenae (Ambohitantely); 
(C) ‘Stumpffia’ sp. Ca34 (Tsaratanana); (D) ‘Stumpffia’ sp. Ca15 (Manombo).

in Scherz, Vences, Rakotoarison, Andreone, Köhler, Glaw & Crottini, 2016.

 DOI:  10.1016/j.ympev.2016.04.019 

Highlights: 

• A new phylogeny of Cophylinae provides strong support for previous genus-level relationships.

• Phylogenetic relationships are corroborated by new osteological data.

• Description of a new genus endemic to Madagascar: Anilany gen. nov.

• Cophyla and Platypelis are morphologically similar sister genera.

• Stumpffia and Rhombophryne are ecomorphologically distinct sister genera.

Abstract

A recent study clarified several aspects of microhylid phylogeny by combining DNA sequences from Sanger sequencing and anchored phylogenomics, although numerous aspects of tree topology proved highly susceptible to data partition and chosen model. Although the phylogenetic results of the study were in conflict with previous studies, the authors made several changes to the taxonomy of Madagascar’s cophyline microhylids. We re-analysed part of their data together with our own molecular and morphological data. Based on a supermatrix of 11 loci, we propose a new phylogeny of the Cophylinae, and discuss it in the context of a newly generated osteological dataset. We found several sample misidentifications, partially explaining their deviant results, and propose to resurrect the genera Platypelis and Stumpffia from the synonymy of Cophyla and Rhombophryne, respectively. We provide support for the previous genus-level taxonomy of this subfamily, and erect a new genus, Anilany gen. nov., in order to eliminate paraphyly of Stumpffia and to account for the osteological differences observed among these groups. Deep nodes in our phylogeny remain poorly supported, and future works will certainly refine our classification, but we are confident that these will not produce large-scale rearrangements.

Keywords: Cophylinae; Anilany gen. nov; Cophyla; Platypelis; Rhombophryne; Stumpffia

 Representatives of Stumpffia and Stumpffia-like clades.
(A) S. tetradactyla (Nosy Boraha; holotype, ZFMK 52547); (B) Anilany helenae (Ambohitantely; ZSM 370/2005); 
(C) ‘Stumpffia’ sp. Ca34 (Tsaratanana; ZSM 636/2014); (D) ‘Stumpffia’ sp. Ca15 (Manombo; ZMA 20172).

 Mark David Scherz, Miguel Vences, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Franco Andreone, Jörn Köhler, Frank Glaw and Angelica Crottini. 2016. Reconciling Molecular Phylogeny, Morphological Divergence and Classification of Madagascan Narrow-mouthed Frogs (Amphibia: Microhylidae).  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press.  DOI:  10.1016/j.ympev.2016.04.019 

 Researchgate.net/publication/301285050_Classification_of_Madagascan_Microhylidae

[Herpetology • 2024] Kaloula discordia & K. laosensis • Phylogeographic Pattern and Taxonomic Revision of the Kaloula baleata species complex (Anura: Microhylidae) with Description of Two New Species from Indochina

 Kaloula discordia Poyarkov, Gorin, Bragin & Nguyen,

South Vietnamese Painted Frog | Ễnh ương Nam bộ

  Kaloula laosensis Poyarkov, Orlov, Gorin & Milto,

Laotian Painted Frog | “ອື່ງຢາງລາວ

in Gorin, Orlov, Bragin, Pawangkhanant, Milto, Le, Nguyen, Dufresnes, Suwannapoom et Poyarkov, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.37.e137394 

Photographs by A.M. Bragin and N.L. Orlov.

Abstract

Despite increased attention by molecular taxonomists, the herpetofauna of Southeast Asia still hides many undescribed species among far-ranging taxa. In this study, we re-examine the mitochondrial diversity of painted frogs of the microhylid genus Kaloula, based on ~2,455 bp of published and new 12S and 16S rRNA sequences, and describe two new species from the tropical forests of southern Vietnam and central Laos based on integrative evidence. These species, which belong to the K. baleata complex, feature species-level mitochondrial divergence (> 4.4% at 16S rRNA) and are both morphologically well-differentiated from each other and from the recently described K. indochinensis, to which they were previously confounded. Comparative examinations also indicate distinct male advertisement calls and unique coloration features. Based on genetic barcoding, we preliminarily revise the species distribution ranges in the K. baleata complex, which support a general pattern of biogeographic partitioning that has been widely retrieved among the Indochinese amphibians studied so far. Molecular diversity within K. baleata further suggests genetic structure across Sundaland, namely three shallow mitochondrial haplogroups worthy of fine-scale phylogeographic and taxonomic investigations. Furthermore, our study highlights the propensity of amphibian species “hidden in plain sight,” even among recently studied taxa, thus calling for caution when specifying type specimens—the type series of K. indochinensis, described in 2013, includes specimens of the one of the new species. Our study emphasizes the continued need for thorough herpetological surveys even in supposedly well-known parts of Indochina and sets the ground for future research in Kaloula painted frogs, notably to test evolutionary and taxonomic hypotheses with genomic loci.

Key Words: 16S rRNA, bioacoustics, DNA barcoding, Laos, morphology, Southeast Asia, systematics, taxonomy, Vietnam

Genealogical relationships of the genus Kaloula based on the analysis of mtDNA fragments, including 12S rRNA, tRNAVal, and 16S rRNA gene sequences. Numbers at tree nodes correspond to PP/UFB support values, respectively. Black circles correspond to well-supported (PP ≥ 0.95 or UFB ≥ 90) nodes. Numbers in bold following sample names correspond to localities in Fig. 1 and Table 1. The information on GenBank Accession Numbers, museum vouchers, and localities of origin for sequences used in this study is summarized in Table 1. The holotypes of Kaloula discordia sp. nov. and Kaloula laosensis sp. nov. are marked with asterisks (*H). Photographs by N.A. Poyarkov and N.L. Orlov.

 

Known distribution of the Kaloula baleata species complex members in Indochina.

 

Breeding habitats of Kaloula discordia sp. nov. (A, B) and lateral view of holotype of Kaloula discordia sp. nov. in situ (ZMMU A-8134) (C).

Photographs by A.M. Bragin.

 Kaloula discordia Poyarkov, Gorin, Bragin & Nguyen, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Kaloula discordia sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 42.9–56.2 mm); (2) eyes comparatively small (eye length comprising 60%–75% of snout length); (3) dorsally uniform dark olive-brown; (4) beige-gray ventrally with irregular white mottling on belly and limbs; (5) pale yellow or orange-brown 8-shaped patch on either side of the neck posterior to eyes; (6) yellowish to orange axillary patch present; (7) grayish to beige-yellow inguinal patch present edged with black markings; (8) from gray to beige spot on tibiotarsal articulation present; (9) dark interorbital bar absent; (10) enlarged, widened finger disks (3FDD 6.5%–7.5% of SVL), ca. 1.27 times wider than toe disks; (11) finger subarticular tubercle formula: 1:1:2:2; (12) toe subarticular tubercle formula: 1:1:2:2:2; (13) two metacarpal tubercles not in touch with each other; (14) two metatarsal tubercles, outer metatarsal tubercle rounded, smaller than elongated inner metatarsal tubercle.

Etymology: The specific epithet “discordia” is a noun in apposition, in the nominative case, given in reference to the Roman mythological goddess Discordia. According to the poet Hesiod, this goddess personified not only strife and discord but also competition and labor (Hesiod, Theogony: 20–24, 226–230; see Most 2006). The duality of this name echoes the two aspects of the discovery of the new species. The first aspect is the authors’ hard work and laborious approach in collecting data for the description of the new species. The second challenge pertains to the authors’ internal struggle to choose a politically correct and neutral name for the new species. In modern taxonomy, international teams often face the common challenge of strife and competition; however, this can also lead to overall scientific progress. 

We recommend “South Vietnamese Painted Frog” as the common name in English, “Yuzhnovietnamskiy Bychiy Uzkorot” as the common name in Russian, and “Ễnh ương Nam bộ” as the common name in the Vietnamese language.

Dorsolateral (A) and frontal (B) views of the holotype of Kaloula laosensis sp. nov. in situ (ZISP 15284, male).

Photographs by N.L. Orlov.

  Kaloula laosensis Poyarkov, Orlov, Gorin & Milto, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Kaloula laosensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of morphological attributes: (1) medium size (SVL ranging 44.0–54.8 mm); (2) eyes comparatively large (eye length comprising 75%–100% of snout length); (3) dark-brown dorsally, with numerous irregular dark blotches forming pericloacal ring; (4) gray or beige ventrally with dense white mottling on belly and limbs; (5) orange triangular patch on either side of the neck posterior to eyes; (6) bright-orange axillary patch present; (7) orange inguinal patch present; (8) bright-orange butterfly-shaped blotch above cloaca present; (9) gray spot on tibiotarsal articulation present; (10) dark interorbital bar present; (11) enlarged, widened finger disks (7.8%–7.9% of SVL), ca. 1.53 times wider than toe disks; (12) finger subarticular tubercle formula: 1:1:2:2; (13) toe subarticular tubercle formula: 1:1:2:2:2; (14) three metacarpal tubercles, median metacarpal tubercle in contact with inner metacarpal tubercle; (15) two metatarsal tubercles, inner metatarsal tubercle ca. three times larger than outer metatarsal tubercle; (16) three small supernumerary tubercles at the basis of toes I, III, IV. 

Etymology: The specific epithet “laosensis” is an adjective in the nominative case, given in reference to the new species’ distribution in central Laos. The name also mirrors the specific epithet of K. indochinensis, with which the new species was previously confused. We recommend “Laotian Painted Frog” as the common English name, “Laosskiy bychiy uzkorot” as the common name in Russian, “Ễnh ương Lào” as the common name in Vietnamese, and “ອື່ງຢາງລາວ” (“Ung Yang Lao”) as the common name in Lao languages.

 Vladislav A. Gorin, Nikolai L. Orlov, Andrey M. Bragin, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Konstantin D. Milto, Dac Xuan Le, Tan Van Nguyen, Christophe Dufresnes, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom and Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2024. Phylogeographic Pattern and Taxonomic Revision of the Kaloula baleata species complex (Amphibia, Anura, Microhylidae) with Description of Two New Species from Indochina. Herpetozoa. 37: 391-420.  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.37.e137394 

[Herpetology • 2024] Micryletta thongphaphumensis • Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Micryletta (Amphibia: Microhylidae), with Description of A New Species from Thailand

 Micryletta thongphaphumensis Cao, Suwannapoom, Kilunda, Wu & Che,

in Cao, Suwannapoom, Kilunda, Gao, Wu, Wu et Che, 2024.

Thong Pha Phum Paddy Frog  | อึ่งจิ๋วทองผาภูมิ  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.129398

Abstract

The genus Micryletta is widely distributed in South China and Southeast Asia. Although significant progress has been made in the diversity and taxonomy of this genus over the past few years, the distribution range and taxonomy of some species still remain controversial, especially in M. inornata sensu lato. Consequently, limitations at national borders have resulted in a lack of comparative research on species from different countries. To resolve the classification dispute, assess species diversity, and determine the distribution range of Micryletta, a series of specimens were collected from the Yunnan Province of China and Thailand during herpetological surveys from 2009 to 2020. Subsequent analyses based on morphological and molecular data revealed a distinct and previously unknown lineage from western Thailand, which we formally describe as a new species. Furthermore, our study confirms that M. ‘inornata’, previously known from Mengla, Yunnan, was actually M. menglienica, and further extends its distribution range to Thailand and Laos. In addition, our findings extend the latitudinal distribution of M. inornata and M. subaraji northward into southern Thailand. Notably, this study brings the total number of known species in the genus Micryletta from 13 to 14, with the count rising from three to six species in Thailand and from one to three in Laos. Our study further confirms that species diversity within the genus Micryletta is underestimated and emphasizes the important role that international collaborations play in taxonomy. Intensifying field surveys in other regions (e.g., Myanmar, Vietnam, and Guangxi of China) will be extremely necessary in the future to clarify any taxonomic questions and reevaluate the distribution range of these species.

Key Words: Distribution range, diversity, Micryletta, M. inornata sensu lato, new species

Adult male holotype (KIZ 024670) of Micryletta thongphaphumensis sp. nov. in life.
A. Dorsal view; B. Lateral view of left side; C. Lateral view of right side.

Photos by Jing Che.

Micryletta thongphaphumensis Cao, Suwannapoom, Kilunda, Wu & Che, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Micryletta thongphaphumensis sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Micryletta based on the following combination of morphological traits: small body size; absence of vomerine teeth; tympanum small and externally visible; subarticular tubercles on fingers and toes prominent; three well-developed metacarpal tubercles; absence of webbing between fingers and toes (Dubois 1987; Fei et al. 2009). The new species differs from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: medium-sized within the genus (SVL 21.3–25.6 mm in males, n = 5; 24.4–29.7 mm in females, n = 4; Table 3); snout truncate in dorsal view; tympanum distinct; supratympanic fold absent; a black streak extending from tip of the snout to crotch; upper lip white; tibiotarsal articulation adpressed limb reaching level of tympanum; lack of webbing between fingers and toes; relative finger lengths: I < II < IV < III; relative toe lengths: I < II < V < III < IV; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; ventral skin of body and limbs smooth; brown marbling patterns on dorsal limbs; dorsal orange-brown with black spots (Fig. 4).

...

 

Etymology: The specific name is a Latinized toponymic adjective in neuter gender derived from ‘‘Thong Pha Phum’’ in reference to the type locality Thong Pha Phum District in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.

Suggested common name: We propose “Thong Pha Phum Paddy Frog” as the common English name.

 

expand article infoYu-Yang Cao, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Wei Gao, Chun-Lian Wu, Yun-He Wu and Jing Che. 2024. Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Micryletta (Amphibia, Microhylidae), with Description of A New Species from Thailand. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100(4): 1361-1373. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.129398

[Herpetology • 2024] Four in One: An Integrative Taxonomic Revision of the Microhyla berdmorei complex (Anura: Microhylidae) illustrates the tremendous Amphibian Diversity of Southeast Asia: Microhyla malcolmi, M. sundaica & M. peninsularis

[A] Microhyla berdmorei (Blyth, 1856); [B] M. malcolmi Cochran, 1927, 
[C] Microhyla sundaica sp. nov.; [D] M. peninsularis sp. nov. 

 Trofimets, Dufresnes, Pawangkhanant, Bragin, Gorin, Hasan, Lalremsanga, Muin, Le, Nguyen, Suwannapoom & Poyarkov, 2024 

 DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e127937

Photographs by: A. M. Bragin, N. A. Poyarkov, A. T. Aful, P. Pawangkhanant & M. A. Muin.

Abstract

Berdmore’s narrow-mouthed frog, Microhyla berdmorei (Blyth, 1856), is the largest member of the genus Microhyla and is distributed all over Southeast Asia, from Northeast India and southern China to Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. Here we demonstrate that M. berdmorei represents a complex of four species that are morphologically, acoustically, and genetically distinct from each other, and we implement taxonomic revisions. Phylogenetic analyses of three mitochondrial DNA (hereafter mtDNA, including COI, 12S, and 16S rRNA; 3119 bp) and one nuclear (BDNF; 716 bp) gene sequences are corroborated by phylogenomic analyses of 2700 ddRAD-seq loci (387,270 bp). All support that the M. berdmorei complex, which originates from the early Miocene (ca. 19.7 mya), consists of two clades that we date to the late Miocene (ca. 7.5 mya). The first clade, which regroups populations of large-sized individuals, is distributed in Indo-Burma and includes a lineage from Northeast India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (M. berdmorei sensu stricto) and a lineage from West Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam (for which we propose to resurrect the species M. malcolmi Cochran, 1927). The second clade, which regroups populations of small-sized individuals, occurs in Sundaland and also includes two lineages for which we provide taxonomic descriptions on species rank. The first new species is widely distributed from Peninsular Malaysia to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra (described herein as M. sundaica sp. nov.), while the second one is restricted to the Malay Peninsula and occurs in extreme southern Thailand and adjacent Malaysia (M. peninsularis sp. nov.). We further provide evidence for the synonymy of Callula natatrix Cope, 1867 with M. berdmorei sensu stricto, and M. fowleri Taylor, 1934 with M. malcolmi. Our study illustrates the high diversity of Southeast Asian amphibians, especially in the genus Microhyla, which presently totals 54 species.

Keywords: Advertisement call, biodiversity, ddRAD-seq, Indochina, molecular phylogeny, morphology, mtDNA, narrow-mouthed frogs, new species, Sundaland

Members of the Microhyla berdmorei species complex in life.
А M. berdmorei sensu stricto, MZMU A-8005 and MZMU A-8003 (a couple showing cephalic amplexus) from Aizawl, Mizoram State, India; B M. malcolmi, ZMMU A-7973 from Than To, Yala Province, Thailand;
C M. sundaica sp. nov., ZMMU A-8011 (holotype) from environs of Sungai Tua Recreational Forest, Selangor State, Malaysia; D M. peninsularis sp. nov., ZMMU A-8016 (holotype) from Lam Plok Waterfall, Trang Province, Thailand. 

Photographs by: A. M. Bragin (A), N. A. Poyarkov (B), A. T. Aful (C), P. Pawangkhanant (D).

Microhyla berdmorei species complex

Microhyla berdmorei (Blyth, 1856)

Common name: Berdmore’s narrow-mouthed frog 

Etymology: The species name “­berdmorei” was given in honor of Captain Major Thomas Matthew Berdmore (1811–1859), a British officer and naturalist who was stationed in Myanmar during the mid-19th century. M. T. M. Berdmore was famous for the collection of numerous animal specimens, including this particular species of frog. 

Recommended common names: “Berdmore’s narrow-mouthed frog” (English); “Nhái bầu Béc-mơ” (Vietnamese); “uzkorot Berdmora” (узкорот Бердмора, Russian); “Changpîng” (Mizo; literally meaning “spindle frog”); “Eung mae nao Pama” (อึ่งแม่หนาวพม่า, Thai).

Microhyla malcolmi Cochran, 1927

Suggested common name: Malcolm’s narrow-mouthed frog.

Etymology: The species was named after Dr. Malcolm Arthur Smith (1875–1958), a famous British herpetologist and physician, who collected many specimens in the early 20th century across Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. 

Recommended common names: “Malcolm’s narrow-mouthed frog” (English); “Nhái bầu Mao-com” (Vietnamese); “uzkorot Malkolma” (узкорот Малькольма, Russian); “Eung mae nao” (อึ่งแม่หนาว, Thai).

Natural habitat of Microhyla sundaica sp. nov. at the type locality in Sungai Tua, Selangor State, Peninsular Malaysia (A), and in Gunung Jerai Mt., Kedah State, Peninsular Malaysia (B);
calling males of M. sundaica sp. nov. from Sedim, Kedah State, Peninsular Malaysia in situ (C, D) (not collected).

Photographs by M. A. Muin.

Microhyla sundaica sp. nov. 

Suggested common name: Sundaic narrow-mouthed frog.

Etymology: The species epithet “sundaica” is a latinized adjective in nominative singular, adjusted to the feminine gender of the genus name “Microhyla”, and is given in reference to the distribution of the new species, which inhabits the three major landmasses of the Sundaland, or Sundaic Region, namely: Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. “Sundaica” is the Latin name for Sundaland. 

Recommended common names: “Sundaic narrow-mouthed frog” (English); “Nhái bầu Sunda” (Vietnamese); “Zondskiy uzkorot” (Зондский узкорот, Russian); “Eung mae nao Malayu” (อึ่งแม่หนาวมลายู, Thai); “Katak mulut sempit Sunda” (Malay).

Microhyla peninsularis sp. nov.

Suggested common name: Peninsular narrow-mouthed frog.

Etymology: The species epithet “peninsularis” is a Latin adjective in nominative singular, meaning “peninsular”, and is given in reference to the distribution of the new species, which is presently only known from the southern part of the Thai-Malay Peninsula in Trang Province of Thailand and Terengganu State of Malaysia. 

Recommended common names: “Peninsular narrow-mouthed frog” (English); “Nhái bầu bán đảo Mã Lai” (Vietnamese); “Malayskiy uzkorot” (Малайский узкорот, Russian); “Eung mae nao pak sun” (อึ่งแม่หนาวปากสั้น, Thai); “Katak mulut sempit semenanjung” (Malay).

 Alexei V. Trofimets, Christophe Dufresnes, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Andrey M. Bragin, Vladislav A. Gorin, Mahmudul Hasan, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Mohd Abdul Muin, Dac Xuan Le, Tan Van Nguyen, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom and Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2024. Four in One: An Integrative Taxonomic Revision of the Microhyla berdmorei complex (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) illustrates the tremendous Amphibian Diversity of Southeast Asia. Vertebrate Zoology .74: 595-641. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/vz.74.e127937

[Herpetology • 2024] Platypelis saikamavo • A New Species of colorful Platypelis (Anura: Microhylidae) from the Tsaratanàna and Bemanevika massifs in northern Madagascar

Platypelis saikamavo

 Rakotoarison, Vences, Andreone, Crottini, Glaw, Scherz & Raselimanana, 2024  

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5501.1.8 

 x.com/MarkScherz

 

Abstract

Frogs of the genus Platypelis are known to have their center of species richness in the mountain massifs of northern Madagascar. We here formally describe a new species of Platypelis from this region. Platypelis saikamavo sp. nov. has been known for over 20 years but its taxonomic identity has only recently been robustly clarified as a result of ongoing taxonomic revisions of other Platypelis species. The new species is known from rainforest on the Tsaratanàna Massif and Bemanevika, at elevations of 1000–1530 m above sea level. It is characterized by an isolated phylogenetic position and is genetically highly divergent, with an uncorrected pairwise distance ≥4.5% in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene to all other nominal species of Platypelis. It has a unique combination of morphological and chromatic character states such as a relatively large body size of 28–31 mm in snout–vent length, distinct superciliary tubercles, and bright yellow color around the forelimb insertion and on the posterior abdomen where this color extends in the form of flash marks onto the inguinal region.

Amphibia, Anura, Cophylinae, yellow flashmarks, narrow-mouthed frog

Platypelis saikamavo sp. nov.  

Andolalao Rakotoarison, Miguel Vences, Franco Andreone, Angelica Crottini, Frank Glaw, Mark D. Scherz and Achille P. Raselimanana. 2024. A New Species of colorful Platypelis (Amphibia: Microhylidae) from the Tsaratanàna and Bemanevika massifs in northern Madagascar.  Zootaxa. 5501(1); 171-180. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5501.1.8

  x.com/MarkScherz/status/1829428247500599329  

[Herpetology • 2024] Hylophorbus lengguru, H. maculatus & H. monophonus • Species Delimitation and Phylogenetic Analyses of A New Guinean Frog Genus (Anura: Microhylidae: Hylophorbus) reveal many Undescribed Species and A Complex Diversification History driven by late Miocene Events

 

Hylophorbus spp.

in Ferreira, Kraus, Richards, Oliver, Günther, Trilaksono, Arida, Hamidy, Riyanto, Tjaturadi, Thébaud, Gaucher et Fouquet, 2024. 

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad168 

 twitter.com/ZoolJLinnSoc

Abstract

New Guinea is the largest tropical island in the world and hosts immense endemic biodiversity. However, our understanding of how the gradual emergence of the terrestrial ecosystems of the island over the last 40 Myr has generated this biological richness is hampered by poorly documented species diversity and distributions. Here, we address both these issues through an integrative taxonomy and biogeographical approach using Hylophorbus, a New Guinea-endemic genus of frogs with 12 recognized species. We delimited candidate species by integrating mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, and bioacoustics, then investigated their evolutionary history. Our results suggest that the current taxonomy of the genus misses true species diversity by ≥3.5-fold. Nevertheless, most candidate species (27) remain unconfirmed because of missing data, whereas five were identified unambiguously as undescribed (we describe three of these formally). Time-calibrated phylogenetic analyses suggest that Hylophorbus diversification began ~9 Mya in the northern or eastern portion of New Guinea. It would appear that lineages dispersed to new terrestrial habitats in the west, notably uplifted by the central range orogeny, until eventually reaching the Bird’s Head during the Mio-Pliocene (7–5 Mya). Conversely, a past barrier appears to have prevented north–south dispersal. These data suggest that new habitat availability has primarily driven the diversification of Hylophorbus.

amphibian, biogeography, cryptic species, Indo-Pacific, 16S ribosomal RNA, island fauna, phylogeography, alpha taxonomy

Hylophorbus lengguru sp. nov., 

Hylophorbus maculatus sp. nov., 

Hylophorbus monophonus sp. nov.

  

Flavien Ferreira, Fred Kraus, Stephen Richards, Paul Oliver, Rainer Günther, Wahyu Trilaksono, Evy Ayu Arida, Amir Hamidy, Awal Riyanto, Burhan Tjaturadi, Christophe Thébaud, Philippe Gaucher and Antoine Fouquet. 2024. Species Delimitation and Phylogenetic Analyses of A New Guinean Frog Genus (Microhylidae: Hylophorbus) reveal many Undescribed Species and A Complex Diversification History driven by late Miocene Events. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. zlad168. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad168

  twitter.com/ZoolJLinnSoc/status/1770499633426403405

 www.brin.go.id/press-release/117375/brin-temukan-49-taksa-baru-selama-2023-terbanyak-dari-sulawesi

[Herpetology • 2022] Microhyla dabieshanensis • A New Species of the Genus Microhyla (Anura: Microhylidae) from the Dabie Mountains, China

 Microhyla dabieshanensis Zhang, Chen & Zhang, 

in C. Zhang, Chen, M. Zhang, Wang, Ma, Sun, Jiang et B. Zhang, 2022. 

Dabie Mountains Pygmy frog | 大别山姬蛙  ||  DOI: 10.3390/ani12212894 

 Researchgate.net/publication/364665319 

 

Abstract

Species belonging to the genus Microhyla are small-sized frogs that are widely distributed in southern, eastern, and south-eastern Asia. In China, the genus harbors many cryptic species, on two of which—M. beilunensis and M. fanjinshanensis—studies were recently published. In this study, we collected specimens from the Dabie Mountain range, which is at the junction of Anhui, Henan and Hubei Provinces, East China; these specimens belonged to a species previously identified as M. mixtura. Based on phylogenetic analyses, species delimitation analyses, morphological comparisons and advertisement calls comparisons, we found they were significantly different from other known congeners, and thus we describe them as a new species. This study enriches the diversity of Microhylidae, and clarifies the species of the genus Microhyla in the Dabie Mountains.

 

Keywords: Microhyla; taxonomy; phylogenetic analyses

 Microhyla dabieshanensis sp. nov. 
Color variation. (A-D) male; (E) female; (F) couple mating;
(A) dorsal view; (B) ventral view; (C) dorsal view; (D) ventral view; (E) right dorsal lateral view.

Microhyla dabieshanensis sp. nov. 

Etymology: The specific Microhyla dabieshanensis sp. nov. refers to the distribution of the new species in the Dabie Mountains in China. We recommend the English name would be the "Dabie Mountains Pygmy frog" and Chinese name as "大别山姬蛙 (Dà Bié Shān Ji Wā)." 

 Caiwen Zhang, Cheng Chen, Meihua Zhang, Zhiyue Wang, Haohao Ma, Ruolei Sun, Jianping Jiang and Baowei Zhang. 2022. A New Species of the Genus Microhyla (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from the Dabie Mountains, China. Animals. 12(21), 2894. DOI: 10.3390/ani12212894 

 Researchgate.net/publication/364665319_A_New_Species_of_Microhyla_from_the_Dabie_Mountains_China

Simple Summary: In China, new species of Microhylidae continue to be discovered at a rapid rate, often as a result of re-examining geographically widespread species populations using new molecular and bioacoustic tools. Here, we show that members of the genus Microhyla from the Dabie mountains in East China can be distinguished from morphologically similar species (M. beilunensis, M. fanjinshanensis and M. mixtura) with the analysis of phylogeny, species delimitation, bioacoustics and morphology. Based on the above multiple lines of evidence, we describe the population of the Dabie Mountains as a new species, Microhyla dabieshanensis sp. nov. This study enriches the diversity of Microhylidae, and clarifies the species of the genus Microhyla in the Dabie Mountains. Microhyla dabieshanensis sp. nov. is distributed in the Dabie Mountains above 500 m above sea level, and in some areas has sympatric distribution with M. fissipes and M. heymonsi.