Three New Species of Callulina (Amphibia: Anura: Brevicipitidae) Highlight Local Endemism and Conservation Plight of Africa's Eastern Arc Forests
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Abstract
Abstract
Material ascribed to the genus Callulina from north-east Tanzania and south-east Kenya is assessed. Three new species of Callulina are described from the North (Callulina laphami sp. nov.) and South (Callulina shengena sp. nov. and Callulina stanleyi sp. nov.) Pare Mountains in Tanzania. The species are diagnosed based on morphological, acoustic, and molecular data. A new key to the species of Callulina is provided. Based on an interpretation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, we suggest that the three species will qualify as critically endangered, because of their small distributions and the ongoing threat to their habitat. We reveal the high local endemism of Callulina in the northern part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, with each species restricted to no more than one mountain (fragment) block. This high local endemism in Callulina is probably widespread across the Eastern Arc, raising further conservation concern for this group of amphibians. Based on new molecular phylogenetic data for Callulina, we discuss biogeographical relationships among north-east Tanzanian mountains, and evolutionary patterns in Eastern Arc breviciptids.
Description
Keywords
Eastern Arc Mountains, Kenya, Pares, Probreviceps, Shimba Hills, Tanzania, Tympanum loss, Usambara
Citation
Loader, S.P., Gower, D.J., Ngalason, W. and Menegon, M., 2010. Three new species of Callulina (Amphibia: Anura: Brevicipitidae) highlight local endemism and conservation plight of Africa's Eastern Arc forests. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 160(3), pp.496-514.