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Type: Articles
Published: 2011-11-10
Page range: 15–26
Abstract views: 75
PDF downloaded: 1

A remarkable new species of Callulina (Amphibia: Anura: Brevicipitidae) with massive, boldly coloured limb glands

Tropical Biodiversity Section, Trento Science Museum, Via Calepina 14, I–38100 Trento, Italy Department of Environmental & Geographical Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Biogeography, University of Basel, Switzerland
Amphibia aposematism Eastern Arc glands Nectophrynoides Nguru Tanzania

Abstract

A large new species of Callulina is described from a series of 22 specimens from the montane and upper montane forest of the Nguru Mountains, Tanzania. The most striking features of Callulina meteora sp. nov. are the massive and boldly coloured glands on the arms and legs and a metallic sheen to the skin. The new species is distinguished further on the basis of acoustic and molecular data. The position, size and conspicuousness of the enlarged glands in the new species are strikingly similar to those of Nectophrynoides viviparus, a toad found also in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. The new species is known from a single forest reserve and is of high conservation concern.

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