A new species of stream frog, genus Strongylopus (Anura: Ranidae) from Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, with comments on a ‘northern volcanic mountains group’ within the genus

Abstract

A new species of Stream frog, genus Strongylopus, is described. The new species is similar to its northern Tanzanian congener S. kitumbeine, but may be distinguished from that species by its facial markings, smaller tympanum, minor differences in head and snout shape, nostril closer to tip of the snout than to the eye, dorsal colour pattern, longitudinal skin folds, immaculate abdomen and slightly reduced webbing on the foot. It is suggested that there is a ‘northern volcanic’ group of species within Strongylopus. The phylogenetic grade of the ‘volcanic’ Strongylopus species is uncertain. If they are relatively plesiomorphic then the phylogeography of the genus is more complex than has hitherto been assumed. Should there turn out to be two widely separated plesiomorphic groups within the genus, then its evolutionary‐biogeographical relationships would be of considerable interest and merit further investigation. The conservation status of the new species is uncertain but it might be threatened by the effects of ongoing climate change on Mt Kilimanjaro.