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Issue: Vol. 4300 No. 2: 2 Aug. 2017
Type: Article
Published: 2017-08-02
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4300.2.3
Page range: 195–216
Abstract views: 216
PDF downloaded: 150

Uncovering a hidden diversity: two new species of Breviceps (Anura: Brevicipitidae) from northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa. Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, University of Leuven, Charles Debériotstraat 32, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Somerset Street, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
Amphibia Breviceps carruthersi sp. nov. Breviceps passmorei sp. nov. advertisement calls bioacoustics cryptic species molecular genetics morphology Zululand

Abstract

Breviceps carruthersi sp. nov. and Breviceps passmorei sp. nov. are described from northern KwaZulu-Natal. Both new species are distinguished from B. adspersus, B. mossambicus, B. poweri and B. cf. sopranus by substantial interspecific genetic divergence (> 6.8 uncorrected p-distance) in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, differences in advertisement call structure and limited morphological variation. Breviceps carruthersi sp. nov. has a short, pulsatile call with minimal amplitude modulation and groups its calls. Breviceps passmorei sp. nov. differs significantly from B. adspersus and B. mossambicus in call duration and pulse number, but not in pulse rate or dominant frequency. For both new species morphological characters are of limited diagnostic value, necessitating a re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of populations currently assigned to B. adspersus and B. mossambicus in KwaZulu-Natal.

 

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