Uncovering a hidden diversity: Two new species of Breviceps (Anura: Brevicipitidae) from northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Breviceps carruthersi sp. nov. and Breviceps passmorei sp. nov. are described from northern KwaZulu-Natal. Both new species are distinguished from B. adspersus, B. mossambicus, B. poweri and B. cf. sopranus by substantial interspecific genetic divergence (> 6.8 uncorrected p-distance) in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, differences in advertisement call structure and limited morphological variation. Breviceps carruthersi sp. nov. has a short, pulsatile call with minimal am-plitude modulation and groups its calls. Breviceps passmorei sp. nov. differs significantly from B. adspersus and B. mos-sambicus in call duration and pulse number, but not in pulse rate or dominant frequency. For both new species morphological characters are of limited diagnostic value, necessitating a re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of popula-tions currently assigned to B. adspersus and B. mossambicus in KwaZulu-Natal.