Platypelis sp. Ca12

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. Ca12

Remark.

This species has been listed as Platypelis sp. CaNEW3 Sorata in Scherz et al. (2016, 2017) and Peloso et al. (2017).

Material.

UADBA-A (FGZC 3607) collected on 26 November 2012 at a site in the Sorata Massif (13.6817S, 49.4411E, 1339 m a.s.l.), northern Madagascar, by F. Glaw, O. Hawlitschek, T. Rajoafiarison, A. Rakotoarison, F.M. Ratsoavina, and A. Razafimanantsoa; UADBA-A (FGZC 3781) and UADBA-A (FGZC 3782) collected on 1 December 2012 from the camp site in the Sorata Massif (near 13.6851S, 49.4417E, 1279 m a.s.l.), northern Madagascar, by the same collectors.

Identity.

Only three putatively juvenile specimens of this lineage were collected, and measurements of two of these are included in Table 1 . As these were not recognized as potentially taxonomically distinct in the field, no color photos and no field notes on color in life or habitat were taken. In preservative the dorsal color is brown, with a distinct light triangular spot at midback and a fine, light-coloured vertebral line (FGZC 3607), with an indistinct light dorsal marking (FGZC 3781) or a light-coloured vertebral stripe (FGZC 3782). The hindlimbs have dark crossbands dorsally and the ventral surfaces are brownish. An assessment of the status of this lineage will have to wait until additional material becomes available. However, due to its syntopic occurrence with P. laetus , strong mitochondrial divergence and limited RAG-1 haplotype sharing, it is very likely that this is yet another undescribed species of highland Platypelis , and we predict that it will likely differ in its advertisement call from P. laetus as do most frog species that occur in syntopy ( Köhler et al. 2017).