Systematic revision of the enigmatic Malagasy broad-headed frogs (Laurentomantis Dubois, 1980), and their phylogenetic position within the endemic mantellid radiation of Madagascar

Abstract

A revision of species included in the subgenus Laurentomantis (genus Mantidactylus ) yielded new information about phylogeny, taxonomy, and biogeography of the endemic mantellid frog radiation in Madagascar. Four Laurentomantis species, distinguished by morphology and advertisement calls, are recognized: Mantidactylus ( Laurentomantis ) horridus (Northern and North-Western biogeographic regions), M . ( L .) ventrimaculatus (South-East and East); M . ( L .) malagasius (East); and the new species M . ( L .) striatus (North-East). M. striatus and M. malagasius are probably sister species based on bioacoustic and morphological affinities. A tibial gland, so far unknown in anurans, is described in M. malagasius and M. horridus . A phylogenetic analysis of 54 mainly osteological and morphological characters in 33 endemic Malagasy anurans resulted in a position of Laurentomantis close to species of the subgenera Spinomantis and Gephyromantis (genus Mantidactylus ), in accordance with its subgeneric status. However, also the well-established genus Mantella resulted to be nested within Mantidactylus , supporting the need of generic partitioning of the latter.