A New Miniature Species of Arthroleptis (Anura: Arthroleptidae) from Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

Researchers have identified a new miniature species of frog, Arthroleptis, endemic to Nyungwe National Park and Cyamudongo Forest in Rwanda. This tiny amphibian, measuring just 16–16.5 mm in adult males, is distinguished by unique morphological traits, including skin texture, hindlimb length, and ventral coloration. It also exhibits a distinctive advertisement call with a single note lasting approximately 17.4 ms and a dominant frequency of around 5861 Hz. Genetic analysis further supports its classification as a distinct species, with a significant uncorrected p-distance of at least 4.6% from other Arthroleptis species. The study also describes additional call types and provides insights into the natural history of this newly discovered frog.

Dehling, J. M. (2023). A New Miniature Species of Arthroleptis (Anura: Arthroleptidae) from Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. Diversity, 15(10), 1104. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101104