New species of reed frog from the Congo basin with discussion of paraphyly in Cinnamon-belly reed frogs

Researchers have identified a new species of reed frog, Hyperolius, within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This discovery challenges the taxonomic classification of the Cinnamon-belly reed frog (H. cinnamomeoventris), revealing it to be paraphyletic—a group that does not include all descendants of a common ancestor. The new species, characterized by its bright yellow dorsolateral line and light heel spot, was distinguished through mitochondrial DNA analysis, which placed it within a non-sister clade alongside other morphologically distinct taxa. This study highlights the genetic diversity within reed frogs and underscores the need for taxonomic revisions to accurately reflect evolutionary relationships.

SCHICK, S., KIELGAST, J., RÖDDER, D., MUCHAI, V., BURGER, M., & LÖTTERS, S. (2010). New species of reed frog from the Congo basin with discussion of paraphyly in Cinnamon-belly reed frogs. Zootaxa, 2501(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2501.1.2