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Issue: Vol. 5584 No. 1: 5 Feb. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-02-05
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5584.1.2
Page range: 26-46
Abstract views: 41
PDF downloaded: 3

Digging out another cryptic species: A new sand frog (Anura: Pyxicephalidae: Tomopterna) from Mozambique

Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management; North-West University; Potchefstroom 2520; South Africa
Department of Zoology and Entomology; University of Pretoria; Private Bag X20; Hatfield 0028; South Africa; Endangered Wildlife Trust; Plot 27 & 28 Austin Road; Glen Austin AH; Midrand 1685; South Africa
Division of Research Capacity Development; South African Medical Research Council; Private Bag X385; Pretoria 0001; South Africa
Amphibia Banhine National Park sand frogs new species distribution advertisement call DNA

Abstract

A new species of Tomopterna is described from Banhine National Park, southern Mozambique. It differs from all other sand frogs by an uncorrected p-distance of 4.9–8.7% for 16S rRNA. The new species can be distinguished from all other described species of sand frogs by: males 37 mm SVL or less, undivided subarticular tubercles, more than three phalanges free of webbing on the fourth toe, a continuous glandular ridge below the tympanum, a distinct tympanic membrane, the nostrils closer to the snout tip than the eye, the rounded canthus rostralis, a round tympanum, the absence of an outer metatarsal tubercle, an interrupted inter-orbital bar, small dorsal warts, the absence (or weakness) of vomerine teeth, the solid pigmented throat in mature males, the distinct palmar tubercles, the smooth ventral surface, and barring on the limbs. This description adds a further amphibian to the list of Mozambican frogs, which has increased significantly in recent years.

 

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