Data from: A new puddle frog (Phrynobatrachidae: Phrynobatrachus) from the Mambilla Plateau in eastern Nigeria

A new species of puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus) is described from the Kurmin Danko Forest Reserve on the western edge of the Mambilla Plateau in eastern Nigeria. The new species is distinguished from both geographically proximate and closely related Phrynobatrachus species by the combination of its body size (larger than the closely related P. chukuchuku, P. manengoubensis, and P. werneri), degree of development of male traits, and a unique ventral colour pattern in males. Molecular phylogenetic analysis reveals that this new species is closely related to P. werneri and P. manengoubensis, which together with several other species form a clade restricted to the mountains of the Cameroon Volcanic Line. This new Phrynobatrachus is the first known amphibian species hypothesized as endemic to the Mambilla Plateau of eastern Nigeria.

本研究记述了采自尼日利亚东部曼比拉高原西缘库尔明丹科森林保护区的1个新水坑蛙属（Phrynobatrachus）物种。该新种可通过体型（大于亲缘关系较近的P. chukuchuku、P. manengoubensis及P. werneri）、雄性性状发育程度以及雄性独特的腹部体色模式这一组合特征，与地理分布邻近且亲缘关系相近的其他水坑蛙属物种相区分。分子系统发育分析结果显示，该新种与P. werneri和P. manengoubensis亲缘关系紧密，二者与其他数个物种共同构成一个仅分布于喀麦隆火山带山地的演化支。该新发现的水坑蛙属物种是目前已知首个被推测为尼日利亚东部曼比拉高原特有两栖动物物种。