Exploration into the hidden world of Mozambique's sky island forests: new discoveries of reptiles and amphibians
Author
Conradie, Werner
Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P. O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013, South Africa & South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, P / Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
werner@bayworld.co.za
Author
Bittencourt-Silva, Gabriela B.
University of Basel, Biogeography Research Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Basel 4056, Switzerland
Author
Engelbrecht, Hanlie M.
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X 7, Claremont, 7735, South Africa & Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Author
Loader, Simon P.
University of Roehampton, Department of Life Sciences, London, SW 15 4 JD, United Kingdom
Author
Menegon, Michele
MUSE, Museo delle Scienze, Viale del Lavoro e delle Scienza, 3 Trento 38122, Italy
Author
Nanvonamuquitxo, Cristovao
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Lurio University, Pemba, 958, Mozambique
Author
Scott, Michael
Khangela Safaris, www. khangelasafaris. com, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Author
Tolley, Krystal A.
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X 7, Claremont, 7735, South Africa & Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa
text
Zoosystematics and Evolution
2016
2016-09-26
92
2
163
180
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zse.92.9948
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zse.92.9948
1860-0743-2-163
9DA068DAB881409199FE252D31DDC7D1
FFCC824A3E5F060CFFF2FF83B964FFD2
155320
Nothophryne cf. broadleyi Poynton, 1963
Material
Mt. Namuli
(PEM
A11320
, male,
17.9 mm
SUL; PEM
A11321
, female,
22.7 mm
SUL; PEM
A11322
, male,
18.1 mm
SUL; PEM
A11322
, PEM
A11323
, female,
23.4 mm
SUL; PEM
A11324
, male, 18.0 mm SUL; PEM
A11325
, juvenile, 19.0 mm SUL; PEM
A11326
, male,
17.5 mm
SUL; PEM
A11327
, male,
18.7 mm
SUL; PEM
A11328
, female,
25.3 mm
SUL; PEM
A11329
, male,
19.5 mm
SUL; PEM
A11330
, female,
20.7 mm
SUL; PEM
A11331
, male,
18.2 mm
SUL; PEM
A11332
, juvenile,
17.1 mm
SUL; PEM
A11333
, male,
17.4 mm
SUL; PEM
A11334
, male,
18.2 mm
SUL; PEM
A11335
, male,
17.5 mm
SUL; PEM
A11336
, juvenile,
13.9 mm
SUL; PEM
A11337
, juvenile,
13.3 mm
SUL; PEM
A11338
, juvenile,
15.7 mm
SUL; PEM
A11339
, female,
25.9 mm
SUL; PEM
A11340
, male,
17.5 mm
SUL; PEM
A11342
, male,
18.1 mm
SUL; PEM
A11343
, female, 22.0 mm SUL; PEM
A11344
, male,
18.4 mm
SUL; PEM
A11345
, male, 18.0 mm SUL; PEM
A11346
, male,
17.7
mm
SUL; PEM
A11347
, male,
17.4 mm
SUL), Mt.
M'paluwe
(PEM
A11369
, female,
21.7 mm
SUL; PEM
A11370
, female,
23.8 mm
SUL; PEM
A11371
, male,
19.2 mm
SUL; PEM
A11372
, male,
18.1 mm
SUL)
.
Comments
Specimens were collected both during the day and at night from rocky outcrops in water seepages (Fig.
3E
,
3F
). Historically,
Nothophryne
has only been reported from two localities: Mt. Mulanje, Malawi (type locality) and Mt.
M'paluwe
in Mozambique (Poynton 1962 &
1966
,
Blake 1965
), both higher than 1200 m asl.
Timberlake et al. (2009)
were the first to report this species from Mt. Namuli. Some calls similar to
Nothophryne
were heard from the summit of Mt. Mabu, but no frog was visually located to confirm the species occurrence in this mountain. Genetic analyses suggest a cryptic diversity in this genus (
Bittencourt-Silva et al. 2016
) and additional work is underway to update its taxonomy. Based on its small distribution these nominotypical species is listed as Endangered (
Mazibuko and Poynton 2004
). Referring to that the undescribed species will receive similar red list status.