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Resurrection and re-description of Plethodontohyla laevis (Boettger, 1913) and transfer of Rhombophryne alluaudi (Mocquard, 1901) to the genus Plethodontohyla (Amphibia, Microhylidae, Cophylinae) Project ID: 00000C396 Public
7 Media · 7 Specimens · Managed by: Angelica Crottini

The systematics of the cophyline microhylid frog genera Plethodontohyla and Rhombophryne have long been intertwined, and their relationships have only recently started to become clear. While Rhombophryne has received a lot of recent taxonomic attention, Plethodontohyla has been largely neglected. Our study is a showcase of just how complex the taxonomic situation between these two genera is, and the care that must be taken to resolve taxonomic conundrums where old material, multiple genus transitions, and misattribution of new material obfuscate the picture. We assessed the identity of the historic names Dyscophus alluaudi (currently in the genus Rhombophryne), Phrynocara laeve and Plethodontohyla laevis tsianovohensis (both synonyms of Rhombophryne alluaudi) based on an integrative taxonomic approach harnessing genetics, external morphology, osteological data obtained via micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT) and bioacoustics. We show that (1) the holotype of Dyscophus alluaudi is a member of the genus Plethodontohyla, (2) the Rhombophryne species currently assigned to Rhombophryne alluaudi has no affinity with that species, and is instead an undescribed species, and (3) Phrynocara laeve and Dyscophus alluaudi are not synonymous, but represent closely related species, whereas Plethodontohyla laevis tsianovohensis is tentatively confirmed as synonym of D. alluaudi. We re-describe Plethodontohyla laevis and Plethodontohyla alluaudi on the basis of new and historic material.

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  ID Part Object Taxonomy Type Date Added Publication Status  
000035391 zsm:856/2006 Volumetric Image Series 2017-10-30 Open Download  
000035385 MNHN:RA:1936.47 Rhombophryne alluaudi Volumetric Image Series 2017-10-30 Open Download  
000034619 smf:4286 Plethodontohyla laevis Volumetric Image Series 2017-10-26 Open Download  
000035387 zsm:3/2002 Volumetric Image Series 2017-10-30 Open Download  
000034600 mrsn:a:6340 Plethodontohyla laevis Volumetric Image Series 2017-10-26 Open Download  
000034601 zsm:89/2004 Rhombophryne alluaudi Volumetric Image Series 2017-10-26 Open Download  
000035386 MNHN:RA:1901.235 Rhombophryne alluaudi Volumetric Image Series 2017-10-30 Open Download  
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