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 curtus clade This clade comprises several small to large-sized species (23.4–65.0 mm adult SVL) typically characterized by a relatively short snout and short hindlimbs, sometimes a weakly developed frenal stripe (very rare in other Brygoomantis ), and occurrences either in the Central Region or in the western regions of Madagascar (South, West and North-West), including several montane species: Mantidactylus curtus , M. alutus , M. ambohimitombi , M. bourgati , M. madecassus , M. pauliani , as well as one new species and two new subspecies named herein ( holotypes are depicted in Fig.9 ). The M.curtus clade was particularly difficult to revise because the calls of most species are— even by the standards of Brygoomantis —highly inconspicuous and rarely heard, and differences between males and females are not easy to recognise externally (males often have rather indistinct femoral glands, not too different from the gland rudiments of females). Two exceptions to this are M. alutus , a small-sized species with distinct femoral glands in males and distinct calls, and M. mahery sp. nov. , a widespread species in the West, reaching into the North West and into the South (Isalo). Furthermore, our analysis with the Phylonetworks package suggested two instances of reticulated evolution in this clade (see above), which further complicates taxonomic inference.