Dr. Nayana Wijayathilaka of the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences in the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the team of researchers have recently discovered a New Frog Species from Sri Lanka. This frog is endemic to Sri Lanka and widely distributed at lower elevations in the island. The researchers have named this species as Uperodon rohani to honor Mr. Rohan Pethiyagoda one of Sri Lanka’s leading naturalist and a taxonomist on Freshwater fish of Sri Lanka.
Results of this novel discovery have been published in the reputed International Journal ‘Zootaxa’ under the title “An integrative taxonomic review of the South Asian microhylid genus Uperodon”.
Behind this successful discovery there have been a team of researchers including Sonali Garg, Gayani Senevirathne, Nayana Wijayathilaka, Samadhan Phuge, Kaushik Deuti, Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi, Madhava Meegaskumbura and Sd Biju.
Following is an abstract of the full article “An integrative taxonomic review of the South Asian microhylid genus Uperodon” you can access the full text via :
www.researchgate.net/integrative_taxonomic_review_South_Asian_microhylid_genus_Uperodon
Abstract: Based on a recent molecular phylogenetic study, the South Asian microhylid genus Uperodon (subfamily Microhylinae) currently comprises of 12 valid species that are largely restricted to India and Sri Lanka. Considering the revised generic-level status of its various members, here we review the taxonomy of all known species in this genus and clarify their nomenclatural status and geographical distribution, by integrating evidence from genetics, adult and tadpole morphology, breeding ecology, and bioacoustics. Our molecular analyses of a mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene fragment combined with external and internal morphological studies also revealed a distinct new species in the genus. This species, formally described as Uperodon rohani sp. nov., is endemic to Sri Lanka and widely distributed at lower elevations in the island. For nomenclatural stability of various previously known members, the following actions are also undertaken: (1) redescription of the poorly-defined species Ramanella anamalaiensis Rao (= Uperodon anamalaiensis) and Hylaedactylus montanus Jerdon (= Uperodon montanus); (2) neotype designation for Ramanella anamalaiensis Rao (= Uperodon anamalaiensis), Ramanella minor Rao, Ramanella mormorata Rao (= Uperodon mormorata), and Ramanella triangularis rufeventrisRao; (3) lectotype designation for Callula variegata Stoliczka (= Uperodon variegatus); and (4) synonymization of Ramanella minor Rao with Uperodon anamalaiensis.
