New Species Discovered

[Ngala]

Seven new species of Night Frogs (Anura, Nyctibatrachidae) from the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of India, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms
Nyctibatrachus athirappillyensis Garg, Suyesh, Sukesan & Biju, 2017
Nyctibatrachus manalari Garg, Suyesh, Sukesan & Biju, 2017
Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani Garg, Suyesh, Sukesan & Biju, 2017 
Nyctibatrachus radcliffei Garg, Suyesh, Sukesan & Biju, 2017
Nyctibatrachus robinmoorei Garg, Suyesh, Sukesan & Biju, 2017
Nyctibatrachus sabarimalai Garg, Suyesh, Sukesan & Biju, 2017 
Nyctibatrachus webilla Garg, Suyesh, Sukesan & Biju, 2017

*This image is copyright of its original author

Figure 5: Holotype of Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani sp. nov. (ZSI/WGRC/V/A/902).
(A) Dorsolateral view, in life. (B) Size (SVL 13.3 mm) in comparison to the Indian five-rupee coin (24 mm diameter). © Dorsal view, in life. (D) Dorsal surface third finger disc, in preservation. (E) Dorsal surface of fourth toe disc, in preservation. (F) Ventral view, in life. (G) Femoral glands, in preservation. (H) Close-up of femoral glands after removal of skin showing multiple glands. (I) Lateral view of head, in preservation. (J) Ventral view of hand, in preservation. (K) Ventral view of foot, in preservation. (L) Schematic illustration of foot webbing.

Abstract:
"The Night Frog genus Nyctibatrachus (Family Nyctibatrachidae) represents an endemic anuran lineage of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India. Until now, it included 28 recognised species, of which more than half were described recently over the last five years. Our amphibian explorations have further revealed the presence of undescribed species of Nights Frogs in the southern Western Ghats. Based on integrated molecular, morphological and bioacoustic evidence, seven new species are formally described here as Nyctibatrachus athirappillyensis sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus manalari sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus radcliffei sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus robinmoorei sp. nov., Nyctibatrachus sabarimalai sp. nov. and Nyctibatrachus webilla sp. nov., thereby bringing the total number of valid Nyctibatrachus species to 35 and increasing the former diversity estimates by a quarter. Detailed morphological descriptions, comparisons with other members of the genus, natural history notes, and genetic relationships inferred from phylogenetic analyses of a mitochondrial dataset are presented for all the new species. Additionally, characteristics of male advertisement calls are described for four new and three previously known species. Among the new species, six are currently known to be geographically restricted to low and mid elevation regions south of Palghat gap in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and one is probably endemic to high-elevation mountain streams slightly northward of the gap in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, four new species are also among the smallest known Indian frogs. Hence, our discovery of several new species, particularly of easily overlooked miniaturized forms, reiterates that the known amphibian diversity of the Western Ghats of India still remains underestimated." Reply