Melanesia holds the world’s most diverse and intact insular amphibian fauna

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Nov. 4, 2022

Abstract Identifying hotspots of biological diversity is a key step in conservation prioritisation. Melanesia—centred on the vast island New Guinea—is increasingly recognised for its exceptionally species-rich and endemic biota. Here we show that Melanesia has world’s most diverse insular amphibian fauna, with over 7% global frog species less than 0.7% land area, 97% endemic. We further estimate nearly 200 additional candidate have been discovered but remain unnamed, pointing to total fauna excess 700 species. Nearly 60% Melanesian lineage direct-developing microhylids characterised by smaller distributions co-occurring families, suggesting lineage-specific high beta driver anuran megadiversity. A comprehensive status assessment highlights geographic concentrations recently described range-restricted threatened taxa warrant urgent actions. Nonetheless, world standards, relatively intact, 6% assessed listed as no documented extinctions; thus it provides an unparalleled opportunity understand conserve megadiverse intact

Language: Английский

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Multiple trans-Torres Strait colonisations by tree frogs in the

Australian Journal of Zoology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 68(1), P. 25 - 39

Published: May 20, 2021

Australia and New Guinea (together referred to as Sahul) were linked by land for much of the late Tertiary share many biotic elements. However, is dominated rainforest, northern savannah. Resolving patterns interchange between these two regions critical understanding expansion contraction both habitat types. The green tree frog (Litoria caerulea) has a vast range across eastern Guinea. An assessment mitochondrial morphological diversity in this nominal taxon reveals taxa. True Litoria caerulea occurs disjunct savannahs Trans-Fly, Central Province Australia, with very low genetic divergence, implying Pleistocene connectivity. A previously unrecognised endemic widespread lowland swampy rainforest. Date estimates divergence new species suggest Pliocene connectivity tropical habitats In contrast, shows shallow phylogeographic structuring central mountains Guinea, recent dispersal southern lowlands. These results emphasise that extent rainforest savannah environments have undergone profound shifts since Pliocene. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A577A415-0B71-4663-B4C1-7271B97298CD

Language: Английский

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A new species of montane Prasinohaema (Sphenomorphini: Scincidae) from the South-fold Mountains of New Guinea

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5621(2), P. 211 - 230

Published: April 15, 2025

Over the last two decades herpetofauna surveys in South-fold mountains of central New Guinea have revealed many new and locally endemic species. Here, we describe a species skink genus Prasinohaema from three montane localities Papua Guinea’s ranges spanning approximately 80 km between Muller Range northwest Tari Gap southeast. Genetic evidence indicates that scurrula sp. nov. is most closely related to other predominantly Prasinohaema, including type for P. flavipes. It can be readily distinguished by aspects body size proportions, scalation head digits, colouration. The likely arboreal as paratype was collected tree canopy. This could explain scarcity observations relatively well-sampled region. Despite small number known there appears extensive suitable habitat this region are no major current threats, so suggest an IUCN status Least Concern. To facilitate further taxonomic work on Australasian skinks also provide preferred definitions names key states which been variably defined and/or assigned different previous literature.

Language: Английский

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Five new species of the pelodryadid genus Litoria Tschudi from the southern versant of Papua New Guinea’s Central Cordillera, with observations on the diversification of reproductive strategies in Melanesian treefrogs

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5263(2), P. 151 - 190

Published: April 5, 2023

New Guinea has the most diverse insular frog fauna in world, and rates of species discovery description have increased rapidly last two decades. Pelodryadid treefrogs are second family anurans on island but their taxonomy, relationships, especially ecology remain poorly documented. Based differences morphology, advertisement calls (where available) phylogenetic analyses a 787 base pair alignment from mitochondrial ND4 gene flanking tRNA, we describe five new small hill lower montane forests high rainfall belt that straddles southern versant Papua Guinea's Central Cordillera. Three these known only forest growing karst substrates, adding to number herpetofauna currently extensive habitats South-fold Mountains. We also arboreal breeding strategies species, report obligate treehole (phytotelm) Guinean frogs for first time. The phytotelm-breeding juveniles with colour patterning closely resemble bird droppings, suggesting defensive mimicry or masquerade. A preliminary phylogeny suggests arboreal-breeding do not form monophyletic group evolved multiple times within pelodryadid radiation. further striking feature is poor support basal nodes radiation Melanesian Pelodryadidae, rapid ecological diversification speciation, potentially following colonisation Australia and/or mountain uplift. These taxa observations highlight previously unrecognised reproductive diversity Pelodryadidae.

Language: Английский

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Two new species of torrent-breeding treefrogs (Anura: Pelodryadidae: Litoria) from hill forests on the southern edge of New Guinea’s Central Cordillera

Vertebrate Zoology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 74, P. 417 - 433

Published: June 28, 2024

Abstract We describe two new species of torrent-breeding Litoria Tschudi, 1838 from low-elevation hill-forest habitats on the southern fringe Papua New Guinea’s Central Cordillera. One is currently known only Kikori River basin, and other adjacent Strickland basins. The can be distinguished all by aspects morphology advertisement call structure. Both are below 500 m a.s.l. so considered less likely to threatened devastating frog pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Longcore, Pessier & Nichols, 1999 than Melanesian pelodryadid frogs occupying higher, cooler habitats, should that introduced region. hundred ten have now been documented a near doubling total recognised when first field guide region was published nearly 20 years ago, emphasising rich anuran community this area.

Language: Английский

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A New Species of Small Green Treefrog (Pelodryadidae: Litoria) from the Lakekamu Basin in Southern Papua New Guinea

Current Herpetology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 42(1)

Published: Feb. 23, 2023

We describe a new species of very small (male body length 22.0–22.8 mm), green treefrog in the pelodryadid genus Litoria Tschudi from lowland rainforest on southern margin Papua New Guinea's central cordillera. The is morphologically most similar to leucova, known only north-flowing Sepik River catchment western Guinea. It differs that by having longer limbs (TL/SVL 0.56–0.60 vs. 0.53–0.55), poorly defined (vs. prominent) tympanum, distinct lemon yellow mid-lateral line, and its unique advertisement call comprising slowly repeated series short clicks followed discrete group pulses produced rapidly but with highly variable inter-pulse intervals. Although genetic data are not available, species' association fast-flowing rocky stream suggests relationships may lie other torrent-dwelling species.

Language: Английский

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A new species of torrent-breeding treefrog (Pelodryadidae: Litoria) from the mountains of Papua, Indonesia, with new records and observations of Litoria dorsivena (Tyler, 1968)

Vertebrate Zoology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 73, P. 127 - 139

Published: Jan. 26, 2023

The mountains of New Guinea are home to species-rich but poorly understood communities stream or torrent-breeding pelodryadid treefrogs. Here we describe a new species moderately sized Litoria from the Papua Province, Indonesia. is most similar dorsivena differs that in aspects body size, skin texture and especially shape snout. Based on recent collections, also present data distribution colour life L. . Both show marked sexual size dimorphism when compared other treefrogs, pattern may vary between males females. treefrogs remain known and, given declines ecologically pelodryadids Australia, should be priority group for taxonomic research population monitoring.

Language: Английский

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A new species of treefrog (Litoria: Pelodryadidae) from the karstic South-fold Mountains of New Guinea

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5514(6), P. 559 - 576

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Despite recent advances in the systematics and taxonomy of relictual family Scolebythidae, type genus Scolebythus Evans, 1963 remained monospecific for more than sixty years. Here, I describe illustrate bekilyensis sp. nov. from a female specimen collected southern Madagascar. This discovery emphasizes on endemism this genus, which is unique within Scolebythidae being restricted to one biogeographic realm, suggests that potential new species are yet be discovered megadiverse region.

Language: Английский

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Two new species of green treefrogs (Pelodryadidae: Litoria) from the northern slopes of Papua New Guinea’s Central Cordillera

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5271(3), P. 477 - 502

Published: April 27, 2023

We describe two new species of moderate-sized (male body length 26.5-29.8 mm and 41.0 mm), predominantly green treefrogs in the genus Litoria from hill forest on northern slopes Papua New Guinea's Central Cordillera. Phylogenetic analysis mitochondrial ND4 nucleotide sequences shows that first is related to iris (Tyler) its allies. It morphologically most similar mystax, a small treefrog known only holotype was described more than 100 years ago north coast western Guinea but differs having longer legs broader head. The second closest gasconi, foothills Foja Mountains Province, Indonesian Guinea, Prince Alexander Guinea. has net average sequence divergence 10% L. gasconi can be distinguished it other pelodryadids by presence striking pattern spots blotches ventral surfaces hidden limbs. These descriptions add rapidly increasing diversity frogs lower montane forest, habitats support diverse frog communities mainland

Language: Английский

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Occurrence Download

Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

A dataset containing 2835291 species occurrences available in GBIF matching the query: { "and" : [ "HasCoordinate is true", "HasGeospatialIssue false" ] } The includes records from 53110 constituent datasets: Please see https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/download/0066082-231120084113126 for full list of all constituents.

Language: Английский

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