An inordinate fondness for inconspicuous brown frogs: integration of phylogenomics, archival DNA analysis, morphology, and bioacoustics yields 24 new taxa in the subgenus Brygoomantis (genus Mantidactylus) from Madagascar Author Scherz, Mark D. Author Crottini, Angelica CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485 - 661 Vairão, Portugal Author Hutter, Carl R. 0000-0001-6381-6339 Museum of Natural Sciences and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA Ễcarl. hutter @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 6381 - 6339 USAỄcarl.hutter@gmail.com Author Hildenbrand, Andrea Hauptstr. 13, 82234 Wessling, Germany Ễandrea @ gutachten-hildenbrand. de GermanyỄandrea@gutachten-hildenbrand.de Author Andreone, Franco Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Via G. Giolitti, 36, 10123 Torino, Italy Author Fulgence, Thio Rosin 0000-0001-7205-7282 Natural and Environmental Sciences, Regional University Centre of the SAVA Region (CURSA), Antalaha, Madagascar Ễthiorosinf @ yahoo. fr; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 7205 - 7282 MadagascarỄthiorosinf@yahoo.fr Author Köhler, Gunther Author Ndriantsoa, Serge Herilala Author Ohler, Annemarie Author Preick, Michaela Author Rakotoarison, Andolalao Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo, 101 Madagascar Author Rancilhac, Loïs Author Raselimanana, Achille P. Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo, 101 Madagascar Author Riemann, Jana C. Author Rödel, Mark-Oliver Author Rosa, Gonçalo M. Author Streicher, Jeffrey W. Author Vieites, David R. Author Köhler, Jörn Author Hofreiter, Michael Author Glaw, Frank Author Vences, Miguel text Megataxa 2022 2022-12-15 7 2 113 311 http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6687412 journal article 217510 10.11646/megataxa.7.2.1 8af27bde-abaa-4f0a-8f84-8b6cc8a97034 2703-3090 7441023 2FD8C310-6486-4592-92F6-5EB894EBD6AC Mantidactylus tripunctatus Angel, 1930 bona species Type material .— Mantidactylus tripunctatus Angel, 1930 is based on syntypes : MNHN 1931.21 , 1931.23–25 and MCZ 14280 [formerly MNHN 1931.22 ] ( Barbour & Loveridge 1946 ; Guibé 1978 ), from ‘ Pic St. Louis , province de Fort-Dauphin’ and ‘ Befotaka , province de Farafangana ... à l’altitude de 700 mètres, au bord d’un torrent, en forêt’. We here designate MNHN 1931.24 , probably a subadult/ juvenile specimen from Pic St. Louis , as lectotype because we could obtain genetic data from this specimen . Lectotype designation is justified by the need to stabilize this and other nomina in Brygoomantis , given the uncertain identity and morphological similarity of many taxa in the subgenus. Identity .—This nomen has been considered a nomen dubium by Guibé (1978) , Blommers-Schl̂sser and Blanc (1991) and Glaw and Vences (1992a) , and as a junior synonym of M. betsileanus by Frost (2021) . Using barcode fishing we obtained a 16S sequence of the lectotype which firmly clusters among sequences of a lineage morphologically similar to M. betsileanus that is widespread and common in the Tolagnaro (= Fort Dauphin) area, including the environments of the Pic St. Louis, and considered as M. sp. 29 or M. sp. Ca29 by Vieites et al. (2009) and Perl et al. (2014) , and depicted as ‘ Mantidactylus sp. aff. betsileanus “Tolagnaro”’ by Glaw andVences(2007).In the phylogenomic tree, a specimen of M. tripunctatus is placed in a subclade with M. noralottae and two other new species described below as M. katae sp. nov. and M. kortei sp. nov. , and relationships between these species are also supported by the 16S tree; all of the species differ from each other in their advertisement calls, and M. noralottae also is characterized by larger body size ( Table 4 ), confirming their species-level distinctness and justifying elevation of M. tricinctus to species status. Diagnosis .—A member of the M. betsileanus clade as revealed by the phylogenomic analysis, probably sister to M. katae sp. nov. described below (but see below for uncertainties regarding the samples of M. katae included in the phylogenomic analysis). See Table 4 for a list of diagnostic morphological characters. The combination of a relatively small body size in males (SVL 26–27 mm ) and distinctly larger size in females (SVL 33–35 mm ), slightly tubercular dorsal skin with distinct continuous dorsolateral ridges, reduced webbing (one phalanx of fifth toe free of web), absence of white spots on flanks, presence of a white marking on snout tip, and advertisement call consisting of a single, long note composed of ≥70 pulses distinguishes M. tripunctatus from species of all other clades ( Table 4 ). Within the M. betsileanus clade, the species differs from M. betsileanus by a lower number of pulses in advertisement calls and a lower pulse repetition rate; and from M. noralottae by smaller body size and presence of a distinct white marking on snout tip ( Table 4 ). For a distinction from the new species described herein, see the respective species accounts. A full list of molecular diagnostic sites in the 16S gene of M. tripunctatus in pairwise comparisons to all other Brygoomantis species is provided as Supplementary appendix. FIGURE 37. Audiospectrogram and corresponding oscillogram of a 1000 ms section of one advertisement call (call duration 2704 ms) of Mantidactylus noralottae , recorded 18 December 2004 at Ambovo, Isalo National Park (20°C air temperature). Recording bandpass-filtered at 1000–3500 Hz. Variation .—Variation in measurements is given in Table 7 . See Fig. 38 for colouration in life and its variation. A light vertebral line can be present. There is pronounced sexual size dimorphism (confirmed male SVL 26.4–27.0 mm [n = 3] vs confirmed female SVL 32.9–34.7 mm [n = 5]). Tympanum size is quite variable but does not seem to differ consistently and strongly between sexes (HTD/ED ratio is 53–93% in females, 93–95% in males). Natural history .—At the base of Pic St. Louis (Tolagnaro) we observed calling males at night, sitting at the edge of shallow puddles in a small, very slowly running stream surrounded by remains of rainforest. Calls .—Advertisement calls of individuals probably belonging to M. tripunctatus (but not DNA barcoded), recorded in February 1991 at a site near Tolagnaro, air temperature unknown ( Vences et al. 2006 : CD2, track 68, cut 1), consists of a long, regularly pulsed note ( Fig. 39 ), emitted in series. The available recording was of relatively poor quality and partly suffered from the overlap of calls of different individuals, making it difficult to assess and measure all parameters precisely. Numerical parameters of five analysed calls were as follows: call duration (= note duration) 1380–1870 ms (1612.8 ± 197.8 ms); ca 70–80 pulses per note (estimate according to overlap of calls); pulse duration 11–19 ms (14.2 ± 2.6 ms); pulse repetition rate within notes 41.7–47.6 pulses/s (45.6 ± 2.3); dominant frequency 1383–1556 Hz (1460 ± 75 Hz); prevalent bandwidth 1200–3400 Hz; call repetition rate (= note repetition rate) ca 8–9 calls/min. Calls recorded on 1 January 1992 at Pic St. Louis near Tolagnaro, 23°C air temperature ( Vences et al. 2006 : CD2, track 68, cuts 2 & 3), generally agree in character with the other calls from Tolagnaro described above. Although difficult to evaluate due to overlapping calls of multiple individuals, call duration seems to be longer, roughly ranging from 2100–2600 ms. Pulse repetition rate in these calls is slightly lower and ranges from ca 30–39 pulses/s. Tadpoles.— The tadpole of this species has not been described. Distribution.— Apparently microendemic to a small area in far South East of Madagascar ( Fig. 7 ). This species is known from Andohahela, Manantantely, Mandena, Nahampoana, Pic St. Louis, and Tsitongambarika. Elevation range: 8–415 m a.s.l. Etymology .—Latin adjective meaning ‘having three spots’, presumably in reference to some feature of the colouration.