Platypelis sp. Ca13

Rakotoarison, Andolalao, Scherz, Mark D., Koehler, Joern, Ratsoavina, Fanomezana M., Hawlitschek, Oliver, Megson, Steven, Vences, Miguel & Glaw, Frank, 2020, Frogs of the genus Platypelis from the Sorata massif in northern Madagascar: description of a new species and reports of range extensions, Zoosystematics and Evolution 96 (1), pp. 263-274 : 263

Platypelis sp. Ca13

Material.

UADBA-A (AEA 039) and UADBA-A (AEA 040) collected on 24 May 2016 in Andravory (13.9830S, 49.7500E, 1168 m a.s.l.), northern Madagascar, by S. Megson, J. Sawyer, R. Walker, W.-Y. Crawley, and T.H. Rafeliarisoa; UADBA-A (AEA 067) and UADBA-A (AEA 068) collected on 30 May 2016 in Andravory (13.005S, 49.7808E, 1168 m a.s.l.), northern Madagascar, by the same collectors.

Identity.

Due to their phylogenetic placement within the P. olgae clade, we included sequences of these specimens from Andravory near Sorata (Fig. 2 ) in our molecular tree; however, the respective specimens were not available for morphological examination in this study as they are still uncatalogued in the UADBA collection. Based on the very high mitochondrial divergence of this lineage we hypothesize it represents a further distinct, undescribed species in the P. olgae clade.

Other Platypelis species

During our surveys in Sorata, we also recorded specimens assigned to P. grandis (Fig. 1 ) and to P. tetra (Fig. 1 ). The taxonomic identity of these two lineages is uncertain and needs to be clarified by future studies.

Figures

Figure 1. Molecular differentiation of species of Platypelis, with an emphasis on samples related to P. alticola, P. tsaratananaensis, and P. olgae (the highland cluster, in the gray box). a Maximum Likelihood tree calculated from a 658 bp alignment of the mitochondrial 16 S rRNA gene (5 ʹ segment of the gene). Numbers at nodes are support values from a bootstrap analysis (1000 replicates) in percent (not shown if below 50 %). A sequence of Stumpffia gimmeli was included as the outgroup. For each sample, voucher number and if available, GenBank accession number is given. Samples outside the P. olgae clade (yellow box) that are highlighted in bold are newly sequenced specimens from the Sorata Massif. b Allele (haplotype) network based on 433 bp of the nuclear RAG- 1 gene (phased sequences, hence each individual represented with two alleles in the network). In the P. alticola and P. tsaratananaensis clusters, an S marks alleles in samples from Sorata and an M marks samples from Marojejy.

Figure 2. Approximate geographical location of occurrence records of the focal Platypelis species in our study (modified from Rakotoarison et al. 2012; showing only records for which molecular data are available). The map indicates elevation (green, lowest; red-yellow, highest). Localities and species occurring at these sites are as follows: (1 - 4) campsites on the Mangindrano-Maromokotro trail, Tsaratanana Massif (Antevialambazaha, Matsabory Maiky, Bepia, Andranomadio); (5) Bemanevika forest; (6) Andrevorevo; (7) Marojejy; (8) Sorata; (9) Andravory. Occurrence records of P. alticola (at sites 1 - 3, and a deep genetic lineage at 8), P. tsaratananaensis (at sites 1 - 3, and deep genetic lineages at 7 and 8), P. olgae (between sites 3 and 4), P. laetus sp. nov. and P. Ca 12 (site 8), and P. sp. Ca 13 (site 9).