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Issue: Vol. 5659 No. 4: 7 Jul. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-07-07
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5659.4.3
Page range: 511-535
Abstract views: 391
PDF downloaded: 5

Whistles in the reeds: a new country record of the deeply divergent Gracixalus medogensis, with additional insights on Gracixalus frogs (Rhacophoridae) in India

Systematics Lab; Department of Environmental Studies; University of Delhi; Delhi; India
Systematics Lab; Department of Environmental Studies; University of Delhi; Delhi; India
Systematics Lab; Department of Environmental Studies; University of Delhi; Delhi; India
Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology; Harvard University; Cambridge; Massachusetts; United States of America
Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology; Harvard University; Cambridge; Massachusetts; United States of America
Amphibia Arunachal Pradesh Bioacoustics Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot Green blood and turquoise bones Medog Tree frogs Systematic relationships Taxonomy Vocal repertoire

Abstract

The poorly known Gracixalus medogensis (Ye and Hu, 1984) was originally described from the Medog region in Tibet, China based on a single specimen. Despite a recently reported new collection from the type locality, knowledge about the species remains limited. During our recent field surveys in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India, we collected new populations of Gracixalus frogs from Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiwarigaon. These were identified as belonging to G. medogensis based on external morphology and genetic evidence, constituting the first record of the species from India. Our matrilineal genealogy further recovers G. medogensis as having a deeply divergent phylogenetic position distinct from all other congeners. Additionally, we present a detailed morphological redescription of the species using multiple specimens. We also provide first insights into the male vocal repertoire in the species and compare it with call properties of other studied congeners. Furthermore, we report additional locality records in Namdapha National Park for G. patkaiensis, which was so far known as the sole representative of the genus in India. We also expand the knowledge on this species’ morphology, including colour variations, natural history, and habitat use. Our study additionally documents an interesting observation of green blood and turquoise bones in G. patkaiensis, making it the first report of this unique characteristic in a species of frog from India. Finally, our findings highlight the need to further investigate not only the diversity of Gracixalus in the northeastern region of India, but also the phylogenetic relationships among members, particularly of G. medogensis, and of Gracixalus sensu lato at large.

 

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How to Cite

Tajo, T., K., R.U., Sarmah, A.N.D.A., Garg, S. & Biju, S.D. (2025) Whistles in the reeds: a new country record of the deeply divergent Gracixalus medogensis, with additional insights on Gracixalus frogs (Rhacophoridae) in India. Zootaxa, 5659 (4), 511–535. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5659.4.3