Stumbling upon a New Frog Species of Guibemantis (Anura: Mantellidae) on Top of the Marojejy Massif in Northern Madagascar

Molly C. Bletz; Mark D. Scherz; Andolalao Rakotoarison; Richard M. Lehtinen; Frank Glaw; Miguel Vences

doi:10.1643/CH-17-655

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3 May 2018 Stumbling upon a New Frog Species of Guibemantis (Anura: Mantellidae) on Top of the Marojejy Massif in Northern Madagascar

Molly C. Bletz, Mark D. Scherz, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Richard M. Lehtinen, Frank Glaw, Miguel Vences

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Copeia, 106(2):255-263 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1643/CH-17-655

Abstract

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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Molly C. Bletz, Mark D. Scherz, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Richard M. Lehtinen, Frank Glaw, and Miguel Vences "Stumbling upon a New Frog Species of Guibemantis (Anura: Mantellidae) on Top of the Marojejy Massif in Northern Madagascar," Copeia 106(2), 255-263, (3 May 2018). https://doi.org/10.1643/CH-17-655

Received: 13 July 2017; Accepted: 5 March 2018; Published: 3 May 2018

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