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ABSTRACTThe frog Arthroleptides dutoitiLoveridge, 1935, endemic to Mount Elgon, East Africa was last collected in 1962 and has not been observed since. The species is regarded as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List and is a priority species on the Zoological Society of London’s EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct, Globally Endangered) project, given its Red List status and phylogenetic distinctiveness. We analyse temporal patterns of abundance (1934–2014) of A. dutoitiand the remainder of the Mount Elgon amphibian assemblage to infer the probability of re-encountering A. dutoitiand assess whether declines are species specific to A. dutoiti,or whether they are assemblage-wide phenomena. Our results show that for localities where surveys have been repeatedly conducted, A. dutoitiis likely to be locally extinct. Declines are observed in other Mount Elgon amphibians, encompassing both specialists and generalists. Causal factors for declines are unknown, but habitat change might be important, given the high degree of forest loss in the area, especially since the turn of the 20th century. Urgent sampling of preferred microhabitats of A. dutoitiat the type locality and surrounding areas beyond those included in our study are required to determine whether or not the species is extinct. Impacts on other taxonomic groups would also be useful to understand so that it can be determined how broad the changes are for the Mount Elgon biota.

AbstractA comprehensive survey of the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa, was undertaken for moss frogs of the genus Arthroleptella. Advertisement calls were recorded and voucher specimens collected for all populations encountered. A molecular phylogeny was constructed for the entire genus using two mitochondrial and one nuclear marker. Standard morphological measurements were made and salient morphological characters described. Analysis of these data revealed the presence of three undescribed species: two that were previously obscured under Arthroleptella bicolorand one obscured under A. landdrosiaare described herein. The advertisement calls of the three new species are described and contrasted with the calls of other Arthroleptellaspecies. Their distribution is described and spatial extent of occurrence quantified along with a brief discussion of conservation status for each species.ZooBank.—Arthroleptella draconella: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:341BABC2-63A8-4C60-A306-D232E92ECE69Arthroleptella atermina: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AC23D804-3075-40DB-9852-624C32A51547Arthroleptella kogelbergensis: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AA573B06-BA81-4B84-B436-5F5CCDF1D892.

A new species of moss frog (genus Arthroleptella) is described from the Klein Swartberg Mountain near Caledon in the Western Cape Province, South Africa to which it is confined. This allopatric species is distinguished from other Arthroleptella species by the large number of very distinct glandular protuberances on the dorsal surfaces, unique calls and by molecular differences. It is the sister species of A. villiersi and A. lightfooti.

A new species of Arthroleptella (moss frog), is described from the Groot Winterhoek Mountains in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The new species is allopatric to other Arthroleptella species. It is distinguished from other Arthroleptella species by its advertisement call, which is a chirp followed by three to seven clicks, blotched patterning on the posterior dorsum and very small size. Combined mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA sequences differ from 1.4% to 4.6% from the other species. The new species has fewer notes per call than Arthroleptella landdrosia and fewer pulses per call than Arthroleptella bicolor. The new species is the sister species to A. bicolor.

Sand frogs of the African genus Tomopterna Dumeril and Bibron, 1841 comprise seven described cryptic species. In this paper we describe a new species from Khorixas, north west Namibia. It is considered a distinct form based on the advertisement call, morphology and mitochondrial DNA sequences.