A new species of Mantidactylus (subgenus Chonomantis) from Ranomafana National Park, eastern Madagascar (Amphibia, Anura, Mantellidae)

Abstract

We describe a new frog species of Mantidactylus belonging to the subgenus Chonomantis from Ranomafana National Park, in the Southern Central East region of Madagascar, at mid-elevations (about 950 m above sea level). Specimens of Mantidactylus paidroa sp. nov. were observed during the day in cavities under large rocks next to a stream in rainforest. Their advertisement calls are unique in Chonomantis and consist of a long series of note pairs. The new species shows a high divergence to other Chonomantis species in DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene (5.6-10.8%). Mantidactylus paidroa is so far only known from several streams in Ranomafana National Park but may have been overlooked at other rainforest sites in eastern Madagascar. We propose an IUCN threat status of Data Deficient for this new species. Copyright © 2011.